Correction: Monday, December 30, 2024 was Connections #568, not #570. The puzzle numbered #570 appeared on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Below are the hints and answers for the December 30 grid, followed by the correct answers for #570 in case that was the puzzle you meant.
Connections #568: December 30, 2024 hints
The 16 words in the December 30 grid were:
PINK, PONY, CLUB, AIRPLANE, GRINDER, WATER, ANTE, HERO, WRAP, SETTLE, JEOPARDY, BEANS, YAHOO, FILTER, MELT, COUGH
Try to identify the groups by looking for phrases, categories and unusual spellings. The purple category is especially dependent on recognizing names exactly as they are styled.
| Color | Hint |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Sandwich types |
| Green | Items associated with making coffee |
| Blue | Words that can precede “up” in payment expressions |
| Purple | Names featuring an exclamation mark |
Step-by-step solving tips
- Start with the lunch-related words. CLUB, HERO, MELT and WRAP can all describe sandwiches or sandwich orders.
- Collect the coffee-making equipment and ingredients. BEANS, FILTER, GRINDER and WATER form a practical set. WATER is the easiest one to overlook because it is not specific to coffee.
- Test words before “up.” ANTE, COUGH, PONY and SETTLE each make a familiar payment-related expression when followed by “up.”
- Use typography for the final group. AIRPLANE, JEOPARDY, PINK and YAHOO connect to names written with an exclamation mark, although P!nk uses the mark inside the name rather than at the end.
Connections #568 answers for December 30
| Group | Answers | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow: Lunch orders | CLUB, HERO, MELT, WRAP | A club sandwich, hero sandwich, melt and wrap are all lunch choices. |
| Green: Used to make coffee | BEANS, FILTER, GRINDER, WATER | These are ingredients or tools used in preparing coffee. |
| Blue: Pay, with “up” | ANTE, COUGH, PONY, SETTLE | Ante up, cough up, pony up and settle up all relate to paying. |
| Purple: Names featuring “!” | AIRPLANE, JEOPARDY, PINK, YAHOO | They refer to Airplane!, Jeopardy!, P!nk and Yahoo!, all associated with an exclamation mark. |
The main traps in this grid
- PONY may look like an animal or children’s word, but “pony up” means to pay or contribute money, putting it in the blue group.
- MELT is a sandwich category, as in a tuna melt or patty melt. It is not being used as a verb here.
- WATER is deliberately broad. It belongs with coffee supplies rather than with a general food or drink category.
- PINK refers to the singer styled P!nk. The exclamation mark replaces the “i”; it is not placed at the end like the marks in Airplane!, Jeopardy! and Yahoo!.
If you meant Connections #570
Connections #570 was published on January 1, 2025, not December 30. Its answers were:
#1 Best Overall
| Group | Answers |
|---|---|
| Slimy animals | EARTHWORM, EEL, SALAMANDER, SLUG |
| Things that luminesce | AURORA, FIREFLY, GLOWSTICK, RADIUM |
| Dutch symbols | CANAL, CLOG, TULIP, WINDMILL |
| Ending with synonyms for “plunge” | GATECRASH, RAINDROP, SKYDIVE, WATERFALL |
The final group uses words that end with terms associated with plunging: gatecrash, raindrop, skydive and waterfall. Those answers should be attributed to January 1, 2025, rather than to the December 30 puzzle.
FAQ
Was December 30, 2024 Connections puzzle #568 or #570?
It was Connections #568. Puzzle #570 was published on January 1, 2025.
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What was the yellow group in Connections #568?
The yellow group was “Lunch orders”: CLUB, HERO, MELT and WRAP.
What does PONY have to do with paying?
“Pony up” is an expression meaning to pay or provide money, which places PONY in the blue group.
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What were the answers to Connections #570?
The groups were slimy animals, things that luminesce, Dutch symbols, and words ending with synonyms for “plunge.” The answers were EARTHWORM, EEL, SALAMANDER, SLUG; AURORA, FIREFLY, GLOWSTICK, RADIUM; CANAL, CLOG, TULIP, WINDMILL; and GATECRASH, RAINDROP, SKYDIVE, WATERFALL.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The Bottom Line
For December 30, 2024, the correct puzzle is Connections #568: CLUB, HERO, MELT and WRAP are lunch orders; BEANS, FILTER, GRINDER and WATER are used to make coffee; ANTE, COUGH, PONY and SETTLE pair with “up” for payment expressions; and AIRPLANE, JEOPARDY, PINK and YAHOO feature exclamation marks. Connections #570 belongs to January 1, 2025.
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