A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #518
hints & answers for November 10, 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 November 10, 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 C, C, D and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CASK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

BARREL-SHAPED CONTAINER

Reveal all four words
  • CASK
  • CYLINDER
  • DRUM
  • TANK

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

PILOT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GUIDE

Reveal all four words
  • PILOT
  • SHEPHERD
  • STEER
  • USHER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

COWBOY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

N.F.L. TEAM MEMBER

Reveal all four words
  • COWBOY
  • JET
  • RAM
  • RAVEN

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

GOLFER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT SWING

Reveal all four words
  • GOLFER
  • PENDULUM
  • SALOON DOORS
  • SWING
Show categories only
  • Yellow: BARREL-SHAPED CONTAINER
  • Green: GUIDE
  • Blue: N.F.L. TEAM MEMBER
  • Purple: THINGS THAT SWING

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

BARREL-SHAPED CONTAINER

CASK · CYLINDER · DRUM · TANK

Green

GUIDE

PILOT · SHEPHERD · STEER · USHER

Blue

N.F.L. TEAM MEMBER

COWBOY · JET · RAM · RAVEN

Purple

THINGS THAT SWING

GOLFER · PENDULUM · SALOON DOORS · SWING

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.