A little help. Your own aha.

Connections #1164
hints & answers for August 18, 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 August 18, 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 L, P, R and V. These initials are in sorted order.

Show one word

LIMOUSINE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

SEEN AT A MOVIE PREMIERE

Reveal all four words
  • LIMOUSINE
  • PAPARAZZI
  • RED CARPET
  • VELVET ROPE

Green group

A little trickier

2/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

PETROLEUM JELLY belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

PJS

Reveal all four words
  • PETROLEUM JELLY
  • POETIC JUSTICE
  • PRACTICAL JOKE
  • PRIVATE JET

Blue group

More challenging

3/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

BASKETBALL belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE

Reveal all four words
  • BASKETBALL
  • ORANGUTAN
  • SWEET POTATO
  • TRAFFIC CONE

Purple group

Wordplay & surprises

4/4
First-letter clue

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

Show one word

COWBOY COFFEE belongs in this group.

Reveal the category

THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY

Reveal all four words
  • COWBOY COFFEE
  • FILM NOIR
  • FLYERS MASCOT
  • SANDPAPER
Show categories only
  • Yellow: SEEN AT A MOVIE PREMIERE
  • Green: PJS
  • Blue: THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE
  • Purple: THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY

Ready for the full solution?

All four categories and their words, together.

Reveal all four answers

Yellow

SEEN AT A MOVIE PREMIERE

LIMOUSINE · PAPARAZZI · RED CARPET · VELVET ROPE

Green

PJS

PETROLEUM JELLY · POETIC JUSTICE · PRACTICAL JOKE · PRIVATE JET

Blue

THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE

BASKETBALL · ORANGUTAN · SWEET POTATO · TRAFFIC CONE

Purple

THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY

COWBOY COFFEE · FILM NOIR · FLYERS MASCOT · SANDPAPER

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.