A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #477
hints & answers for September 30, 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 30, 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 B, B, P and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BLANCH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

COOK WITH HEAT AND WATER

Reveal all four words
  • BLANCH
  • BOIL
  • POACH
  • STEAM

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

Look for four entries beginning with A, M, R and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

AMBERGRIS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

COMMON PERFUME INGREDIENTS

Reveal all four words
  • AMBERGRIS
  • MUSK
  • ROSE
  • VANILLA

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHARLIE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CHARACTERS WITH PET DOGS

Reveal all four words
  • CHARLIE
  • DOROTHY
  • SHAGGY
  • WALLACE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

KETO belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CAPITAL CITY HOMOPHONES

Reveal all four words
  • KETO
  • ROAM
  • SOPHIA
  • SOUL
Show categories only
  • Yellow: COOK WITH HEAT AND WATER
  • Green: COMMON PERFUME INGREDIENTS
  • Blue: CHARACTERS WITH PET DOGS
  • Purple: CAPITAL CITY HOMOPHONES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

COOK WITH HEAT AND WATER

BLANCH · BOIL · POACH · STEAM

Green

COMMON PERFUME INGREDIENTS

AMBERGRIS · MUSK · ROSE · VANILLA

Blue

CHARACTERS WITH PET DOGS

CHARLIE · DOROTHY · SHAGGY · WALLACE

Purple

CAPITAL CITY HOMOPHONES

KETO · ROAM · SOPHIA · SOUL

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.