If you’re in search of the Connections reply for Monday, January 15, 2024, learn on—I’ll share some clues, ideas, and methods, and eventually the options to all 4 classes. Along the best way, I’ll clarify the meanings of the trickier phrases and we’ll learn the way the whole lot suits collectively. Beware, there are spoilers beneath for January 15, NYT Connections #218! Read on if you need some hints (after which the reply) to right now’s Connections sport.
If you need a straightforward method to come again to our Connections hints each day, bookmark this web page. You can even discover our previous hints there as properly, in case you need to know what you missed in a earlier puzzle.
Below, I’ll provide you with some indirect hints at right now’s Connections solutions. And farther down the web page, I’ll reveal the themes and the solutions. Scroll slowly and take simply the hints you want!
Credit: Connections/NYT
Does right now’s Connections sport require any particular data?
Nothing too uncommon, however if you happen to sustain on election information, you could acknowledge some phrases extra readily.
Hints for the themes in right now’s Connections puzzle
Here are some spoiler-free hints for the groupings in right now’s Connections:
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Yellow class – Everyone who’s operating.
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Green class – Like a moat round a fortress, type of.
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Blue class – Ways to get your medication.
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Purple class – A vegetable-inspired group.
Does right now’s Connections sport contain any wordplay?
There’s a fill-in-the-blank.
Ready to listen to the solutions? Keep scrolling if you need a bit extra assist.
BEWARE: Spoilers comply with for right now’s Connections puzzle!
We’re about to provide away a few of the solutions. Scroll slowly if you happen to don’t need the entire thing spoiled. (The full answer is a bit additional down.)
What are the ambiguous phrases in right now’s Connections?
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CREAM and SYRUP could sound like they belong in a soda store, however they might additionally come from a pharmacy.
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A BUFFER isn’t only a system that buffs footwear; it will possibly additionally seek advice from a metaphorical CUSHION that protects towards one thing. For instance, while you play a video on-line, the participant will load a bit bit extra knowledge than you’re presently utilizing—the additional is the BUFFER—in order that if you happen to lose your connection for a second, the video can nonetheless preserve taking part in.
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Whales can are available a POD, however so, famously, do peas.
What are the classes in right now’s Connections?
DOUBLE BEWARE: THE SOLUTION IS BELOW
Ready to study the solutions to right now’s Connections puzzle? I give all of them away beneath.
What are the yellow phrases in right now’s Connections?
The yellow grouping is taken into account to be probably the most simple. The theme for right now’s yellow group is LIST OF CANDIDATES and the phrases are: BALLOT, ROSTER, SLATE, TICKET.
What are the inexperienced phrases in right now’s Connections?
The inexperienced grouping is meant to be the second-easiest. The theme for right now’s inexperienced class is PROTECTIVE BARRIER and the phrases are: BUFFER, CUSHION, PAD, SHIELD.
What are the blue phrases in right now’s Connections?
The blue grouping is the second-hardest. The theme for right now’s blue class is MEDICATION FORMATS and the phrases are: CAPSULE, CREAM, SYRUP, TABLET.
What are the purple phrases in right now’s Connections?
The purple grouping is taken into account to be the toughest. The theme for right now’s purple class is PEA ____ and the phrases are: COAT, GREEN, POD, SOUP.
How I solved right now’s Connections
A BUFFER is both a shoe sharpening machine, or a CUSHION, in order that was my first group. 🟩 Next I noticed CAPSULE and TABLET and realized they’re each kinds of tablets. 🟦 A BALLOT can have a SLATE of candidates. I consider a ROSTER as referring extra to a crew, however it works right here too. 🟨 At that time, the PEA phrases have been fairly apparent. 🟪
Connections Puzzle #218 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟪🟪🟪🟪
How to play Connections
I’ve a full information to taking part in Connections, however right here’s a refresher on the foundations:
First, discover the Connections sport both on the New York Times web site or of their Crossword app. You’ll see a sport board with 16 tiles, every with one phrase or phrase. Your job is to pick out a bunch of 4 tiles which have one thing in frequent. Often they’re all the identical sort of factor (for instance: RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, and SNOW are all kinds of moist climate) however typically there may be wordplay concerned (for instance, BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH are all kinds of lists: bucket record, visitor record, and so forth).
Select 4 gadgets and hit the Submit button. If you guessed accurately, the class and coloration shall be revealed. (Yellow is best, adopted by inexperienced, then blue, then purple.) If your guess was incorrect, you’ll get an opportunity to strive once more.
You win while you’ve accurately recognized all 4 teams. But if you happen to make 4 errors earlier than you end, the sport ends and the solutions are revealed.
How to win Connections
The most vital factor to know to win Connections is that the groupings are designed to be difficult. Expect to see overlapping teams. For instance, one puzzle appeared to incorporate six breakfast meals: BACON, EGG, PANCAKE, OMELET, WAFFLE, and CEREAL. But BACON turned out to be a part of a bunch of painters together with CLOSE, MUNCH, and WHISTLER, and EGG was in a bunch of issues that come by the dozen (together with JUROR, ROSE, and MONTH). So don’t hit “submit” till you’ve confirmed that your group of 4 comprises solely these 4 issues.
If you’re caught, one other technique is to take a look at the phrases that appear to have no connection to the others. If all that involves thoughts while you see WHISTLER is the portray nicknamed “Whistler’s Mother,” you is perhaps on to one thing. When I solved that one, I ended up googling whether or not there was a painter named Close, as a result of Close didn’t match any of the apparent themes, both.
Another method to win while you’re caught is, clearly, to learn just a few useful hints–which is why we share these pointers each day. Check again tomorrow for the subsequent puzzle!
