NYT Connections #391 was the puzzle for July 6, 2024. The quickest spoiler-free route is to think about biological building blocks, baby purchases, objects that can be played as instruments, and words that complete “___ tag.” Full answers and explanations follow below.
Spoiler warning: The complete solution appears below. This is the historical NYT Connections #391 puzzle from July 6, 2024—not a later July 6 puzzle.
Spoiler-safe hints for Connections #391
Connections asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four. The categories are designed to overlap, so a word that seems to fit one group may belong somewhere else. If you want a nudge without giving away the board, try these hints in order of the puzzle’s color difficulty:
- Yellow: Think of fundamental units or components found in living systems.
- Green: Think of things someone might buy for an infant.
- Blue: Think of everyday objects that can be used to make music.
- Purple: Complete the phrase “___ tag.”
Still working? The category labels are next. The full word groups follow them.
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Connections #391 category answers
- Yellow — BIOLOGICAL BUILDING BLOCKS: ATOM, CELL, MOLECULE, PROTEIN
- Green — PURCHASES FOR A BABY: BOTTLE, CRIB, MOBILE, RATTLE
- Blue — OBJECTS PLAYED AS INSTRUMENTS: JUG, SAW, SPOONS, WASHBOARD
- Purple — ___ TAG: DOG, FREEZE, PHONE, PRICE
Full answer explanation
BIOLOGICAL BUILDING BLOCKS: ATOM, CELL, MOLECULE, PROTEIN
These are broad scientific terms connected with the basic components of matter and living systems. An atom and a molecule are units of matter; a cell is a fundamental unit of life; and proteins are essential biological molecules. They are not all interchangeable structures, but they fit the puzzle’s intended category of biological building blocks.
PURCHASES FOR A BABY: BOTTLE, CRIB, MOBILE, RATTLE
A bottle, crib, mobile, and rattle are all familiar items that might appear on a baby-shopping list. MOBILE is the likely trap: it can suggest a phone and therefore seem to belong with PHONE in the final group. In this puzzle, however, MOBILE is the nursery item, while PHONE belongs with the words that precede TAG.
OBJECTS PLAYED AS INSTRUMENTS: JUG, SAW, SPOONS, WASHBOARD
This is the most unconventional group. A jug, saw, spoons, and washboard can all be used as improvised or traditional sound-making objects. The category is not asking for standard orchestral instruments; it is asking for ordinary objects that can be played musically. That broader interpretation is the key to recognizing the group.
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___ TAG: DOG, FREEZE, PHONE, PRICE
Each word forms a familiar phrase when followed by TAG:
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- FREEZE TAG
- PHONE TAG
- PRICE TAG
PHONE and DOG may initially encourage a telephone- or pet-related theory, but the shared phrase is the deciding connection. The category is written as ___ TAG, meaning the missing word comes before “tag.”
Why this puzzle was difficult
The board combines several kinds of ambiguity. MOBILE has a strong modern-phone association, but it is needed for the baby-purchase group. PHONE is not a baby item here; it is part of PHONE TAG. Meanwhile, the instrument category depends on an expanded definition of “instrument,” since the four answers are objects that can be used to create music rather than conventional instruments.
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The first group also uses “building blocks” broadly. A solver looking for four items that are all exactly the same kind of scientific structure could reject it too quickly. Connections categories often operate at the level of a shared concept or label rather than a perfectly technical classification.
Want more Connections puzzles?
If you enjoy the category-matching format and want more puzzles away from the screen, the official Connections puzzle book, Connections: Find the Common Threads in 100+ Puzzles of Wit and Wordplay, collects more than 100 puzzles in hardcover. Check the current retailer listing for availability, price, and any applicable purchase disclosures. There is no claim here that the book includes puzzle #391.
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- Start with the most concrete group. In this board, the baby purchases are easier to identify than the improvised instruments.
- Test every word against the category. Do not lock in MOBILE simply because it relates to phones; check whether it has a stronger fit elsewhere.
- Look for phrase completions. A blank-style category such as “___ TAG” often requires testing common expressions rather than grouping objects by topic.
- Expect the blue and purple groups to be less literal. Unusual objects used as instruments and shared phrases are common sources of misdirection.
- Use the limited mistakes strategically. Before submitting, ask whether one tempting word is being used only because it has a secondary meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Connections #391 published?
NYT Connections #391 was published on July 6, 2024. The date matters because later Connections puzzles also fall on July 6 in other years.
What were the categories in Connections #391?
The four categories were BIOLOGICAL BUILDING BLOCKS; PURCHASES FOR A BABY; OBJECTS PLAYED AS INSTRUMENTS; and ___ TAG.
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Why are jug, saw, spoons, and washboard grouped together?
The four objects were JUG, SAW, SPOONS, and WASHBOARD. They can be played as improvised or traditional sound-making instruments.
The Bottom Line
The July 6, 2024 Connections puzzle was #391. Its groups were biological building blocks; purchases for a baby; objects played as instruments; and words completing “___ TAG.” The trickiest answers were MOBILE, which belongs with the baby items, and the four unconventional musical objects.
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