A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1123
hints & answers for July 8, 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 July 8, 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 G, P, S and S. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

GRATE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

CUT INTO THIN PIECES

Reveal all four words
  • GRATE
  • PLANE
  • SHAVE
  • SLIVER

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

DRIFT belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

MOTIF

Reveal all four words
  • DRIFT
  • PLOT
  • THEME
  • THREAD

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

PICK belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

GUITAR-PLAYING TECHNIQUES

Reveal all four words
  • PICK
  • PLUCK
  • STRUM
  • TAP

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
Wordplay hint

Try putting the same beginning before each entry.

Show one word

CARDS belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

HOUSE OF ___

Reveal all four words
  • CARDS
  • LORDS
  • WAX
  • WORSHIP

Each entry comes after "HOUSE OF" to form a word, expression or name: CARDS → HOUSE OF CARDS; LORDS → HOUSE OF LORDS; WAX → HOUSE OF WAX; WORSHIP → HOUSE OF WORSHIP.

Show categories only
  • Yellow: CUT INTO THIN PIECES
  • Green: MOTIF
  • Blue: GUITAR-PLAYING TECHNIQUES
  • Purple: HOUSE OF ___

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

CUT INTO THIN PIECES

GRATE · PLANE · SHAVE · SLIVER

Green

MOTIF

DRIFT · PLOT · THEME · THREAD

Blue

GUITAR-PLAYING TECHNIQUES

PICK · PLUCK · STRUM · TAP

Purple

HOUSE OF ___

CARDS · LORDS · WAX · WORSHIP

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.