A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #550
hints & answers for December 12, 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 December 12, 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
Picture-label clue

Using the picture descriptions, look for entries beginning with T, T, T and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

TEA belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"

Reveal all four words
  • TEA
  • TEE (GOLF)
  • TEE (SHIRT)
  • TI (MUSICAL NOTE)

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
Picture-label clue

Using the picture descriptions, look for entries beginning with C, G, S and Z. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

COMB belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

OBJECTS WITH TEETH

Reveal all four words
  • COMB
  • GEAR
  • SAW
  • ZIPPER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
Gentle hint

A polite way of letting out your surprise or frustration.

Show one word

FUDGE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MILD OATHS

Reveal all four words
  • FUDGE
  • GEEZ
  • NUTS
  • RATS

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Picture-label clue

Using the picture descriptions, look for entries beginning with B, B, D and M. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BANK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PARTS OF A RIVER

Reveal all four words
  • BANK
  • BED
  • DELTA
  • MOUTH
Show categories only
  • Yellow: THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"
  • Green: OBJECTS WITH TEETH
  • Blue: MILD OATHS
  • Purple: PARTS OF A RIVER

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE "T"

TEA · TEE (GOLF) · TEE (SHIRT) · TI (MUSICAL NOTE)

Green

OBJECTS WITH TEETH

COMB · GEAR · SAW · ZIPPER

Blue

MILD OATHS

FUDGE · GEEZ · NUTS · RATS

Purple

PARTS OF A RIVER

BANK · BED · DELTA · MOUTH

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.