A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #485
hints & answers for October 8, 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 October 8, 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, P, S and W. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BAT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HALLOWEEN SYMBOLS

Reveal all four words
  • BAT
  • PUMPKIN
  • SPIDER
  • WITCH

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BAN belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PROHIBIT

Reveal all four words
  • BAN
  • BLOCK
  • DENY
  • FORBID

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

ACCIDENTAL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FOUND ON SHEET MUSIC

Reveal all four words
  • ACCIDENTAL
  • NOTE
  • REST
  • STAFF

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try putting the same beginning before each entry.

Show one word

APPLE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CANDY ___

Reveal all four words
  • APPLE
  • BAR
  • CANE
  • CORN

Each entry comes after "CANDY" to form a word, expression or name: APPLE → CANDY APPLE; BAR → CANDY BAR; CANE → CANDY CANE; CORN → CANDY CORN.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: HALLOWEEN SYMBOLS
  • Green: PROHIBIT
  • Blue: FOUND ON SHEET MUSIC
  • Purple: CANDY ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

HALLOWEEN SYMBOLS

BAT · PUMPKIN · SPIDER · WITCH

Green

PROHIBIT

BAN · BLOCK · DENY · FORBID

Blue

FOUND ON SHEET MUSIC

ACCIDENTAL · NOTE · REST · STAFF

Purple

CANDY ___

APPLE · BAR · CANE · CORN

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.