A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #465
hints & answers for September 18, 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 September 18, 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 D, P, S and Y. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DECK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GATHERING SPOT OUTSIDE A RESIDENCE

Reveal all four words
  • DECK
  • PORCH
  • STOOP
  • YARD

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DISH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

LOWDOWN

Reveal all four words
  • DISH
  • DOPE
  • INFO
  • SCOOP

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BLOOPER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

KINDS OF REELS

Reveal all four words
  • BLOOPER
  • DEMO
  • HIGHLIGHT
  • SIZZLE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DROOP belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CARTOON DOGS MINUS “Y”

Reveal all four words
  • DROOP
  • GOOF
  • LAD
  • SNOOP
Show categories only
  • Yellow: GATHERING SPOT OUTSIDE A RESIDENCE
  • Green: LOWDOWN
  • Blue: KINDS OF REELS
  • Purple: CARTOON DOGS MINUS “Y”

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

GATHERING SPOT OUTSIDE A RESIDENCE

DECK · PORCH · STOOP · YARD

Green

LOWDOWN

DISH · DOPE · INFO · SCOOP

Blue

KINDS OF REELS

BLOOPER · DEMO · HIGHLIGHT · SIZZLE

Purple

CARTOON DOGS MINUS “Y”

DROOP · GOOF · LAD · SNOOP

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.