A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #551
hints & answers for December 13, 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 13, 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 D, G, P and T. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

DRAGON belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FANTASY CREATURES

Reveal all four words
  • DRAGON
  • GIANT
  • PIXIE
  • TROLL

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DRAFTS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

EMAIL FOLDERS

Reveal all four words
  • DRAFTS
  • SENT
  • SPAM
  • TRASH

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CRUSH belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CITRUS SODAS

Reveal all four words
  • CRUSH
  • SPRITE
  • SQUIRT
  • STARRY

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BORE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ANIMAL HOMOPHONES

Reveal all four words
  • BORE
  • LINKS
  • PHISH
  • TOWED
Show categories only
  • Yellow: FANTASY CREATURES
  • Green: EMAIL FOLDERS
  • Blue: CITRUS SODAS
  • Purple: ANIMAL HOMOPHONES

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

FANTASY CREATURES

DRAGON · GIANT · PIXIE · TROLL

Green

EMAIL FOLDERS

DRAFTS · SENT · SPAM · TRASH

Blue

CITRUS SODAS

CRUSH · SPRITE · SQUIRT · STARRY

Purple

ANIMAL HOMOPHONES

BORE · LINKS · PHISH · TOWED

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.