Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
Picture the equipment in a routine at the Olympics.
Show one word
BEAM belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
GYMNASTICS APPARATUS
Reveal all four words
- BEAM
- HORSE
- RINGS
- VAULT
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #1142
hints & answers for July 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.
#1142
This reference always shows July 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.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with C, I, K and S. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
CARROT belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
LONG TAPERED THINGS
Reveal all four words
- CARROT
- ICICLE
- KNITTING NEEDLE
- STALACTITE
Blue group
More challenging
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with D, G, P and S. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
DOPPLER belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
KINDS OF SHIFTS
Reveal all four words
- DOPPLER
- GRAVEYARD
- PARADIGM
- STICK
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
First-letter clue
Look for four entries beginning with B, C, H and M. These initials are in sorted order.
Show one word
BELL belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE
Reveal all four words
- BELL
- CART
- HEART
- MAGNIFYING GLASS
Show categories only
- Yellow: GYMNASTICS APPARATUS
- Green: LONG TAPERED THINGS
- Blue: KINDS OF SHIFTS
- Purple: ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
GYMNASTICS APPARATUS
BEAM · HORSE · RINGS · VAULT
Green
LONG TAPERED THINGS
CARROT · ICICLE · KNITTING NEEDLE · STALACTITE
Blue
KINDS OF SHIFTS
DOPPLER · GRAVEYARD · PARADIGM · STICK
Purple
ICONS ON A SHOPPING SITE
BELL · CART · HEART · MAGNIFYING GLASS
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.
Continue from this date
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.