A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #486
hints & answers for October 9, 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 9, 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, F, F and F. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BUBBLES belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

EFFERVESCENCE

Reveal all four words
  • BUBBLES
  • FIZZ
  • FOAM
  • FROTH

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BLOSSOM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BURGEON

Reveal all four words
  • BLOSSOM
  • DEVELOP
  • MATURE
  • PROGRESS

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BILLBOARD belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MUSIC PUBLICATIONS

Reveal all four words
  • BILLBOARD
  • MOJO
  • PITCHFORK
  • SPIN

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BOILERPLATE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ENDING WITH TABLEWARE

Reveal all four words
  • BOILERPLATE
  • BUTTERCUP
  • JACKKNIFE
  • WITHERSPOON
Show categories only
  • Yellow: EFFERVESCENCE
  • Green: BURGEON
  • Blue: MUSIC PUBLICATIONS
  • Purple: ENDING WITH TABLEWARE

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

EFFERVESCENCE

BUBBLES · FIZZ · FOAM · FROTH

Green

BURGEON

BLOSSOM · DEVELOP · MATURE · PROGRESS

Blue

MUSIC PUBLICATIONS

BILLBOARD · MOJO · PITCHFORK · SPIN

Purple

ENDING WITH TABLEWARE

BOILERPLATE · BUTTERCUP · JACKKNIFE · WITHERSPOON

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.