A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #409
hints & answers for July 24, 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 24, 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 K, R, R and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

KID belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

JOKE AROUND WITH

Reveal all four words
  • KID
  • RAZZ
  • RIB
  • TEASE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BREAST belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

POULTRY CUTS

Reveal all four words
  • BREAST
  • TENDER
  • THIGH
  • WING

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CALF belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BABY ANIMALS

Reveal all four words
  • CALF
  • CUB
  • FAWN
  • KIT

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BARGE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PUSH THROUGH A CROWD

Reveal all four words
  • BARGE
  • JOSTLE
  • MUSCLE
  • SHOULDER
Show categories only
  • Yellow: JOKE AROUND WITH
  • Green: POULTRY CUTS
  • Blue: BABY ANIMALS
  • Purple: PUSH THROUGH A CROWD

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

JOKE AROUND WITH

KID · RAZZ · RIB · TEASE

Green

POULTRY CUTS

BREAST · TENDER · THIGH · WING

Blue

BABY ANIMALS

CALF · CUB · FAWN · KIT

Purple

PUSH THROUGH A CROWD

BARGE · JOSTLE · MUSCLE · SHOULDER

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.