A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #777
hints & answers for July 27, 2025

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 July 27, 2025. 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, E, N and P. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

CHILD’S PLAY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

"NOTHING TO IT!"

Reveal all four words
  • CHILD’S PLAY
  • EASY
  • NO SWEAT
  • PIECE OF CAKE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BLOCK PARTY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

OUTDOOR EVENTS

Reveal all four words
  • BLOCK PARTY
  • FESTIVAL
  • PICNIC
  • TAILGATE

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

ELEMENTARY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WORDS BEFORE "SCHOOL"

Reveal all four words
  • ELEMENTARY
  • GRADE
  • GRAMMAR
  • PRIMARY

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

CON GAME belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ASSOCIATED WITH TRICKS

Reveal all four words
  • CON GAME
  • HALLOWEEN
  • HEARTS
  • MAGIC SHOW
Show categories only
  • Yellow: "NOTHING TO IT!"
  • Green: OUTDOOR EVENTS
  • Blue: WORDS BEFORE "SCHOOL"
  • Purple: ASSOCIATED WITH TRICKS

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

"NOTHING TO IT!"

CHILD’S PLAY · EASY · NO SWEAT · PIECE OF CAKE

Green

OUTDOOR EVENTS

BLOCK PARTY · FESTIVAL · PICNIC · TAILGATE

Blue

WORDS BEFORE "SCHOOL"

ELEMENTARY · GRADE · GRAMMAR · PRIMARY

Purple

ASSOCIATED WITH TRICKS

CON GAME · HALLOWEEN · HEARTS · MAGIC SHOW

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.