A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #404
hints & answers for July 19, 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 July 19, 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, L, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

FLAME belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ROMANTIC PARTNER

Reveal all four words
  • FLAME
  • LOVER
  • STEADY
  • SWEETHEART

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Gentle hint

Words or actions intended to offend.

Show one word

BURN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

INSULT

Reveal all four words
  • BURN
  • DIG
  • JAB
  • SLIGHT

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DIESEL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GAS PUMP OPTIONS

Reveal all four words
  • DIESEL
  • PLUS
  • PREMIUM
  • REGULAR

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try adding the same ending to each entry.

Show one word

COFFEE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

___ TABLE

Reveal all four words
  • COFFEE
  • PERIODIC
  • POOL
  • WATER

Each entry comes before "TABLE" to form a word, expression or name: COFFEE → COFFEE TABLE; PERIODIC → PERIODIC TABLE; POOL → POOL TABLE; WATER → WATER TABLE.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: ROMANTIC PARTNER
  • Green: INSULT
  • Blue: GAS PUMP OPTIONS
  • Purple: ___ TABLE

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

ROMANTIC PARTNER

FLAME · LOVER · STEADY · SWEETHEART

Green

INSULT

BURN · DIG · JAB · SLIGHT

Blue

GAS PUMP OPTIONS

DIESEL · PLUS · PREMIUM · REGULAR

Purple

___ TABLE

COFFEE · PERIODIC · POOL · WATER

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.