A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #536
hints & answers for November 28, 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 28, 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, P, R and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CREDIT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

APPRECIATION

Reveal all four words
  • CREDIT
  • PRAISE
  • RECOGNITION
  • THANKS

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CHEAT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FRAUDSTER

Reveal all four words
  • CHEAT
  • CON
  • FAKE
  • QUACK

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

Approach a meal as though you have not eaten all day.

Show one word

BOLT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

EAT VORACIOUSLY

Reveal all four words
  • BOLT
  • DOWN
  • GOBBLE
  • SCARF

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try adding the same ending to each entry.

Show one word

FAT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

___ TUESDAY

Reveal all four words
  • FAT
  • GIVING
  • SUPER
  • TACO

Each entry comes before "TUESDAY" to form a word, expression or name: FAT → FAT TUESDAY; GIVING → GIVING TUESDAY; SUPER → SUPER TUESDAY; TACO → TACO TUESDAY.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: APPRECIATION
  • Green: FRAUDSTER
  • Blue: EAT VORACIOUSLY
  • Purple: ___ TUESDAY

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

APPRECIATION

CREDIT · PRAISE · RECOGNITION · THANKS

Green

FRAUDSTER

CHEAT · CON · FAKE · QUACK

Blue

EAT VORACIOUSLY

BOLT · DOWN · GOBBLE · SCARF

Purple

___ TUESDAY

FAT · GIVING · SUPER · TACO

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.