Feeling utterly defeated by today's NYT Connections puzzle? You're not alone! January 23rd's puzzle (#957) was a real head-scratcher for many, even seasoned players. But don't despair, because help is at hand! We're diving deep into hints and answers to get you back on track.
First, a little about the expert behind these insights: Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a CNET editor, is your guide. She's not just a journalist; she's a pop-culture guru and co-author of books like "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s" and "The Totally Sweet '90s." With journalism experience dating back to 1989, including stints at Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital, she's seen it all. A Gen Xer through and through, Gael understands the nuances of language and pop culture that often trip us up in these puzzles. She's got expertise ranging from breaking news and entertainment to lifestyle, travel, food, shopping, product reviews, money & finance, video games, pets, history, books, tech history, and even generational studies! She's even won awards for her headline writing, including "Headline Writer of the Year" from the American Copy Editors Society three times!
Need more Connections in your life? You can find daily answers and hints for the NYT Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition, and Strands puzzles, too!
Today's Connections puzzle (again, from January 23rd) proved particularly tricky. The author admits to solving the green group immediately but struggling with the rest. If you had a similar experience, keep reading for some helpful clues.
Did you know the Times has a Connections Bot, similar to the Wordle bot? This AI analyzes your answers and gives you a score. Registered users can also track their progress, including puzzles completed, win rate, perfect scores, and win streaks. It's a fun way to geek out over your puzzle-solving skills!
Want to improve your game? Check out these hints, tips, and strategies to help you win at NYT Connections every time.
Let's get to those hints! Here are four hints for today's Connections groups, ranked from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple):
- Yellow group hint: Think of another word associated with your face.
- Green group hint: Where do you leave your car?
- Blue group hint: Think about measuring things.
- Purple group hint: What comes before a specific type of "light"? But here's where it gets controversial... the purple category is often the most subjective and open to interpretation.
Ready for the answers?
- Yellow group: Facial features.
- Green group: Kinds of parking.
- Blue group: Imperial units.
- Purple group: Words before "light."
Still need more help? Here are the specific words for each category:
- Yellow (Facial features): Cheek, eye, lip, temple.
- Green (Kinds of parking): Garage, meter, street, valet.
- Blue (Imperial units): Acre, bushel, foot, stone.
- Purple (Words before "light"): Flood, lime, pilot, traffic. And this is the part most people miss... notice how seemingly unrelated these words are until you consider the context of "light."
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Here are some quick tips to boost your Connections game:
- Tip #1: Say the clue words out loud, pausing before and after each. This helps you hear them in context and identify common phrases. The Connections editors love grouping words based on similar phrasing. For example, think of words that can follow "____ Up."
- Tip #2: Don't jump for the obvious! The editors are clever. A puzzle might include SPONGE, BOB, SQUARE, and PANTS, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're all in the same category. Try shuffling the words for a fresh perspective.
- Tip #3: Break down compound words and look for similarities. For example, "Rushmore" was once in a puzzle where each word started with the name of a rock band.
So, did these hints and answers help you conquer today's Connections puzzle? Which category tripped you up the most? Do you agree with the purple category's connection, or do you think there's a better interpretation? Share your thoughts and strategies in the comments below! Let's discuss!
