A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #376
hints & answers for June 21, 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 21, 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 F, M, R and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FERRIS WHEEL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES

Reveal all four words
  • FERRIS WHEEL
  • MERRY-GO-ROUND
  • ROLLER COASTER
  • TILT-A-WHIRL

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CLEARANCE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

APPROVAL

Reveal all four words
  • CLEARANCE
  • GO-AHEAD
  • GREEN LIGHT
  • THUMBS-UP

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CINDERELLA belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

TYPES OF COME-FROM-BEHIND STORIES

Reveal all four words
  • CINDERELLA
  • DAVID-AND-GOLIATH
  • RAGS-TO-RICHES
  • UNDERDOG

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with B, B, R and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BUMPER-TO-BUMPER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BEGINNING WITH SYNONYMS FOR REAR END

Reveal all four words
  • BUMPER-TO-BUMPER
  • BUTTERMILK
  • RUMPELSTILTSKIN
  • TAILGATE
Show categories only
  • Yellow: AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES
  • Green: APPROVAL
  • Blue: TYPES OF COME-FROM-BEHIND STORIES
  • Purple: BEGINNING WITH SYNONYMS FOR REAR END

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES

FERRIS WHEEL · MERRY-GO-ROUND · ROLLER COASTER · TILT-A-WHIRL

Green

APPROVAL

CLEARANCE · GO-AHEAD · GREEN LIGHT · THUMBS-UP

Blue

TYPES OF COME-FROM-BEHIND STORIES

CINDERELLA · DAVID-AND-GOLIATH · RAGS-TO-RICHES · UNDERDOG

Purple

BEGINNING WITH SYNONYMS FOR REAR END

BUMPER-TO-BUMPER · BUTTERMILK · RUMPELSTILTSKIN · TAILGATE

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.