Yellow group
Straightforward
Gentle hint
The account may have grown considerably in the telling.
Show one word
FABRICATION belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
QUITE THE SAGA
Reveal all four words
- FABRICATION
- FISH STORY
- TALL TALE
- YARN
A little help. Your own aha.
Connections #1184
hints & answers
Keep the satisfaction of the solve. Get a nudge for one group, reveal a category, or check the answers at your own pace.
#1184
Which group has you stuck?
Pick a colour. Reveal one step at a time.
1/4
Green group
A little trickier
Gentle hint
Pieces that help an undergarment fit, fasten or support.
Show one word
CUP belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
PARTS OF A BRA
Reveal all four words
- CUP
- HOOK
- STRAP
- UNDERWIRE
Blue group
More challenging
Gentle hint
Think of a familiar evergreen and the things it brings to mind.
Show one word
CAR AIR FRESHENER belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES
Reveal all four words
- CAR AIR FRESHENER
- CHRISTMAS
- NEEDLES
- TURPENTINE
Purple group
Wordplay & surprises
Gentle hint
Animated-film names hide at the starts of these longer entries.
Show one word
PLUTONIUM belongs in this group.
Reveal the category
STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS
Reveal all four words
- PLUTONIUM
- SCAR TISSUE
- STITCH MARKER
- TRAMPOLINE
The beginnings are PLUTO, SCAR, STITCH and TRAMP, all Disney characters.
Ready for the full solution?
All four categories and their words, together.
Reveal all four answers
Yellow
QUITE THE SAGA
FABRICATION · FISH STORY · TALL TALE · YARN
Green
PARTS OF A BRA
CUP · HOOK · STRAP · UNDERWIRE
Blue
ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES
CAR AIR FRESHENER · CHRISTMAS · NEEDLES · TURPENTINE
Purple
STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS
PLUTONIUM · SCAR TISSUE · STITCH MARKER · TRAMPOLINE
Make the connection
Four groups. Just enough help.
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. Each group shares something: a meaning, a phrase, a sound, or an unexpected bit of wordplay.
Start with the group that has you stuck. Open its hint, try again, and reveal more only when you need it. Nothing you open will uncover a different group.
Before you spend another guess
- Find all four. Three convincing words can still be a trap. Look for a fourth that fits the same rule.
- Change the meaning. A word can be a noun, a verb, a name, or part of a phrase. Try reading it another way.
- Leave room for overlap. If five words seem to fit, test which one could belong to another group.
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.