A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #351
hints & answers for May 27, 2024

Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.

This reference always shows May 27, 2024. It is released in at least one timezone; every answer stays closed until you reveal it.

Which group has you stuck?

Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.

Yellow group

Straightforward

1/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with C, S, V and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CHOICE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

AGENCY IN DECISIONMAKING

Reveal all four words
  • CHOICE
  • SAY
  • VOICE
  • VOTE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Short instructions for a four-legged pupil.

Show one word

DOWN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

DOG COMMANDS

Reveal all four words
  • DOWN
  • HEEL
  • SHAKE
  • SPEAK

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with F, N, Q and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FLAT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

KINDS OF NOTES

Reveal all four words
  • FLAT
  • NATURAL
  • QUARTER
  • WHOLE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try adding the same ending to each entry.

Show one word

PUMP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

___ IRON

Reveal all four words
  • PUMP
  • STEAM
  • TIRE
  • WAFFLE

Each entry comes before "IRON" to form a word, expression or name: PUMP → PUMP IRON; STEAM → STEAM IRON; TIRE → TIRE IRON; WAFFLE → WAFFLE IRON.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: AGENCY IN DECISIONMAKING
  • Green: DOG COMMANDS
  • Blue: KINDS OF NOTES
  • Purple: ___ IRON

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

AGENCY IN DECISIONMAKING

CHOICE · SAY · VOICE · VOTE

Green

DOG COMMANDS

DOWN · HEEL · SHAKE · SPEAK

Blue

KINDS OF NOTES

FLAT · NATURAL · QUARTER · WHOLE

Purple

___ IRON

PUMP · STEAM · TIRE · WAFFLE

This puzzle’s recorded solution

The date and puzzle number identify this exact board. Use the individual group controls to compare its recorded categories and words, then return to the archive to find another puzzle.

About the answers and hints

Categories and answers follow the recorded NYT puzzle. Our hints are independent: some are original category clues, while others give the first letters of the four words. Each hint is labelled so you can choose how much help to take.

Group colours follow the puzzle’s yellow, green, blue and purple order, from the most straightforward to the trickiest. Your own experience may differ. The reference tiles may appear in a different order from your game. Picture puzzles have separately hidden descriptions, since a description can give away the wordplay.

The daily page starts with the UTC puzzle date and, with JavaScript enabled, checks the puzzle for your local time zone. Every reveal starts closed when the date changes. Play Connections at The New York Times or contact us about a correction.