Need a nudge for NYT Connections #552, from Saturday, December 14, 2024? The hints are below, followed by the complete solution. Stop after the hint section if you want to solve the puzzle without seeing the groups.
Hints for Connections #552
These clues move from the broad theme toward a more direct pointer. The complete groups are in the next section.
- Yellow: Varieties of an aquatic creature with fins.
- Green: Words heard as an auction comes to a close.
- Blue: Terms for money used in different parts of the world.
- Purple: Each word can come before the name of a common three-letter drinking vessel.
Connections #552 answers
The sixteen words are BUTTER, DIVA, FLUKE, GOING, MULLET, ONCE, POUND, REAL, SOLD, SOLE, SOLO, SOL, TANG, TWICE, WORLD, and YUAN.
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | FISH | FLUKE, MULLET, SOLE, TANG |
| Green | WORDS IN AN AUCTION-ENDING PHRASE | GOING, ONCE, SOLD, TWICE |
| Blue | GLOBAL CURRENCIES | POUND, REAL, SOL, YUAN |
| Purple | WORDS BEFORE “CUP” | BUTTER, DIVA, SOLO, WORLD |
Why the word bank can mislead
There is a potential overlap between the fish and currency groups: TANG is a fish, while REAL, SOL, YUAN, and POUND are currencies. The intended currency group is the four monetary terms; TANG belongs with FLUKE, MULLET, and SOLE. The purple set forms the familiar expressions butter cup, diva cup, solo cup, and World Cup.
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How Connections works
The New York Times Help Center explains that players receive 16 words and must find four groups of four that share something in common. The groups are color-coded yellow, green, blue, and purple, from easiest to trickiest. Some words may seem to fit more than one category, but the puzzle has one intended solution. See the official Connections help page for rules and current access details.
Quick Recap
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