A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1020
hints & answers for March 27, 2026

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 March 27, 2026. 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 B, B, B and N. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

BASIC FACTS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO

Reveal all four words
  • BASIC FACTS
  • BOTTOM LINE
  • BRASS TACKS
  • NITTY-GRITTY

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BAGGAGE CLAIM belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

FEATURES OF AN AIRPORT TERMINAL

Reveal all four words
  • BAGGAGE CLAIM
  • DUTY-FREE
  • FOOD COURT
  • TICKET COUNTER

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

GOLDFISH CRACKER belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE

Reveal all four words
  • GOLDFISH CRACKER
  • MONARCH BUTTERFLY
  • THE LORAX
  • TRAFFIC CONE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

LIP SERVICE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

ENDING IN WORDS FOR CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY

Reveal all four words
  • LIP SERVICE
  • MONKEY BARS
  • TURN SIGNAL
  • WEDDING RECEPTION
Show categories only
  • Yellow: WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO
  • Green: FEATURES OF AN AIRPORT TERMINAL
  • Blue: THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE
  • Purple: ENDING IN WORDS FOR CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO

BASIC FACTS · BOTTOM LINE · BRASS TACKS · NITTY-GRITTY

Green

FEATURES OF AN AIRPORT TERMINAL

BAGGAGE CLAIM · DUTY-FREE · FOOD COURT · TICKET COUNTER

Blue

THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE

GOLDFISH CRACKER · MONARCH BUTTERFLY · THE LORAX · TRAFFIC CONE

Purple

ENDING IN WORDS FOR CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY

LIP SERVICE · MONKEY BARS · TURN SIGNAL · WEDDING RECEPTION

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.