A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #375
hints & answers for June 20, 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 June 20, 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 N, N, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

NAIL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BITS OF HARDWARE

Reveal all four words
  • NAIL
  • NUT
  • SCREW
  • WASHER

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Things you might pack for a day beside the water.

Show one word

FLY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FISHING GEAR

Reveal all four words
  • FLY
  • HOOK
  • LINE
  • SINKER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHAIR belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HAIR SALON FIXTURES

Reveal all four words
  • CHAIR
  • DRYER
  • MIRROR
  • SINK

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try putting the same beginning before each entry.

Show one word

BOLT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

LIGHTNING ___

Reveal all four words
  • BOLT
  • BUG
  • ROD
  • STRIKE

Each entry comes after "LIGHTNING" to form a word, expression or name: BOLT → LIGHTNING BOLT; BUG → LIGHTNING BUG; ROD → LIGHTNING ROD; STRIKE → LIGHTNING STRIKE.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: BITS OF HARDWARE
  • Green: FISHING GEAR
  • Blue: HAIR SALON FIXTURES
  • Purple: LIGHTNING ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BITS OF HARDWARE

NAIL · NUT · SCREW · WASHER

Green

FISHING GEAR

FLY · HOOK · LINE · SINKER

Blue

HAIR SALON FIXTURES

CHAIR · DRYER · MIRROR · SINK

Purple

LIGHTNING ___

BOLT · BUG · ROD · STRIKE

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.