You played today’s puzzle? Or you just need the answers before the coffee wears off?
Today’s Connections board isn’t easy. It’s not impossible, either. It’s that middle ground where you second-guess a basic word for ten minutes.
If you missed it, there is a bot for this now. Yes. Like the Wordle scorecard you show your friends. The Times has one. Log in. See your stats. Win rates. Perfect scores. The nerdy details matter less than finishing the thing.
Here are the clues. Read them if you want to solve it yourself. Stop here if you’re stuck.
The Hints
The game ranks these from easiest (Yellow) to the headache (Purple).
Yellow hint: Boogie down!
Green hint: Do not pass Go.
Blue hint: Reading the news.
Purple hint: Some academic gowns have these
The Answers
Did you get them? Let’s check.
Yellow group : Dance styles
The answers are Foxtrot, Modern, Swing, Tap. Simple stuff.
Green group : In a Monopoly box
This one requires childhood memories. Or board game logic. The answers are Deed, Hotel, Money, Token. You know the drill.
Blue group : Content sorting options online
You see these buttons everywhere. Social media feeds. News sites. The answers are Featured, Popular, Recent, Trending. It’s mundane until you realize “Featured” belongs there.
Purple group : Things with mantles / mantels
Here is the trap. Homophones. The game played you.
Earth, Emperor, Fireplace, Yankees.
Earth has a mantle. An Emperor wears one. A fireplace has a mantel. The Yankees… well. They have a manager? No. They have mantles. Of leadership? History? It works. It always works and it makes no sense.
Harder Was Better
Looking back, some past puzzles were genuinely mean. You want to prepare? Study these.
Puzzle #5 asked for things you can “set.” Mood. Record. Table. Volleyball.
Puzzle #4 was “one in a dozen.” Egg. Juror. Month. Rose.
Puzzle #3? “Streets on screen.” Elm. Fear. Jump. Sesame.
Puzzle #2 asked for “Power ___.” Nap. Plant. Ranger. Trip.
And #1. “Things that can run.” Candidate. Faucet. Mascara. Nose.
We laugh now. We didn’t laugh then.
What happens tomorrow?
