What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
The NYT Connections hints and answers for May 27 identify puzzle #351, published Monday, May 27, 2024. The solution groups are agency in decisionmaking, dog commands, kinds of notes, and “___ iron”: CHOICE/SAY/VOICE/VOTE; DOWN/HEEL/SHAKE/SPEAK; FLAT/NATURAL/QUARTER/WHOLE; and PUMP/STEAM/TIRE/WAFFLE.
This historical answer guide gives progressively clearer clues before explaining every group and the misleading “flat iron” connection. Spoilers begin with the full solution section.
Key takeaways
- NYT Connections puzzle #351 was published on Monday, May 27, 2024.
- The yellow category is agency in decisionmaking: CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, and VOTE.
- The green category is dog commands: DOWN, HEEL, SHAKE, and SPEAK.
- The blue category is kinds of notes, combining pitch terms FLAT and NATURAL with rhythmic values QUARTER and WHOLE.
- The purple category is words that can precede IRON: PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, and WAFFLE.
- FLAT is the main red herring because “flat iron” is familiar, but FLAT belongs with the musical-note terms.
Hints for Connections #351 on May 27
The four groups use four different kinds of relationships. One group describes participation in a decision, one contains commands used in dog training, one consists of musical-note terms, and one completes the phrase “___ iron.”
| Color | Hint | Relationship type |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Ways to express influence or participation in a decision | Semantic and social relationship |
| Green | Commands a person might give a dog | Imperative or training language |
| Blue | Different kinds of musical notes | Technical musical terminology |
| Purple | Words that can come before “iron” | Compound-word completion |
For a spoiler-free solve, start with the dog commands or the decisionmaking words. The musical group is harder because it mixes pitch vocabulary with note-duration vocabulary. Save the phrase-completion group for last if “flat iron” is pulling your attention in the wrong direction.
#1 Best Overall
What are the Connections answers for May 27?
The complete answer to NYT Connections puzzle #351 is:
| Category | Answers | Why they fit |
|---|---|---|
| Agency in decisionmaking | CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, VOTE | Each word relates to selecting, influencing, or expressing a position in a decision. |
| Dog commands | DOWN, HEEL, SHAKE, SPEAK | Each word can be used as a verbal instruction in dog training. |
| Kinds of notes | FLAT, NATURAL, QUARTER, WHOLE | FLAT and NATURAL describe pitch; QUARTER and WHOLE describe rhythmic note values. |
| ___ IRON | PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, WAFFLE | Each word forms a familiar phrase with IRON. |
The date, puzzle number, categories, and word groups are corroborated by a contemporaneous answer guide for Connections #351 and a Connections puzzle archive.
Why are CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, and VOTE grouped together?
CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, and VOTE all relate to agency in decisionmaking. A choice is an option selected or the act of selecting. Having a say means having some influence. A person can give voice to a position, while a vote is a formal way to express a preference or help determine an outcome.
The four words are not identical parts of the decision process. CHOICE can describe the decision itself, whereas SAY, VOICE, and VOTE describe ways a person may express or exercise influence. That broader relationship is what makes the yellow group work.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Which Connections answers are dog commands?
DOWN, HEEL, SHAKE, and SPEAK are the dog-command group. DOWN asks a dog to lie down, HEEL asks a dog to walk closely beside the handler, SHAKE commonly asks the dog to offer a paw, and SPEAK asks for a bark or other vocal response.
These commands may be immediately recognizable to people familiar with dog training, but personal experience and language can affect how quickly the group stands out. The four words are ordinary enough to support several tempting alternative associations.
What does “kinds of notes” mean in Connections #351?
FLAT, NATURAL, QUARTER, and WHOLE are all kinds of musical notes, but the group deliberately combines two musical properties. FLAT and NATURAL are pitch-related terms, while QUARTER and WHOLE identify rhythmic note values.
A flat lowers a written pitch by a semitone in standard musical notation, while a natural cancels a previous sharp or flat in the relevant notation context. A quarter note and a whole note describe durations within a meter. The category is difficult because a solver may initially expect all four words to describe pitch or all four to describe duration.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Which words complete “___ iron”?
PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, and WAFFLE complete familiar phrases with IRON: pump iron, steam iron, tire iron, and waffle iron.
| Word | Completed phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| PUMP | PUMP IRON | Exercise with weights, especially in the expression “pump iron.” |
| STEAM | STEAM IRON | An iron that uses steam while pressing clothing. |
| TIRE | TIRE IRON | A tool used to help remove or install a vehicle tire. |
| WAFFLE | WAFFLE IRON | An appliance or cooking tool used to make waffles. |
The key trap is FLAT. “Flat iron” is a familiar phrase, and that association makes FLAT look like an obvious member of the purple group. The intended purple set is PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, and WAFFLE, leaving FLAT for the blue musical category.
Why was Connections #351 difficult?
Connections #351 creates difficulty through overlapping associations rather than through an obscure answer. FLAT can suggest flat iron, while PUMP and HEEL can invite unrelated groupings. The musical category is also structurally uneven because it combines pitch descriptors with rhythmic-duration terms.
Reader discussion about the May 27, 2024 puzzle mentioned false paths involving types of shoes, including FLAT, PUMP, and HEEL, as well as associations involving STEAM and PUMP. These reactions are documented in the r/NYTConnections discussion for May 27, 2024. The discussion reflects player reactions, not an official numerical difficulty rating or solve-time statistic.
What is the best way to solve this puzzle?
A practical solving order is to identify the clearest semantic group, test the remaining words for a technical category, and then check whether the last four form a phrase pattern.
- Look for direct commands. DOWN, HEEL, SHAKE, and SPEAK are all plausible dog instructions. If those four are visible, test them as a group.
- Find the decisionmaking words. CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, and VOTE share the idea of expressing or exercising influence.
- Inspect the remaining words as a set. FLAT, NATURAL, QUARTER, and WHOLE become coherent as musical terminology even though they do not all describe the same musical property.
- Test the phrase completion. PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, and WAFFLE all pair with IRON.
- Question the most obvious compound. FLAT IRON is real, but FLAT is needed for the musical group, so the familiar phrase is a deliberate red herring.
This approach is a solving strategy inferred from the answer structure and player discussion, not an official New York Times instruction.
How do the four categories differ?
The puzzle does not rely on one kind of connection. Three groups are meaning-based categories, while the purple group depends on a phrase-completion pattern. Recognizing that grammatical difference is useful when a group of four does not share a perfectly narrow definition.
| Category | Words | What connects them |
|---|---|---|
| Agency in decisionmaking | CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, VOTE | Social or semantic relationship involving influence and expression. |
| Dog commands | DOWN, HEEL, SHAKE, SPEAK | Imperative language used to direct a dog. |
| Kinds of notes | FLAT, NATURAL, QUARTER, WHOLE | Musical terminology covering pitch and duration. |
| ___ IRON | PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, WAFFLE | Words that form established compounds or phrases with IRON. |
Final solution for NYT Connections #351
The May 27, 2024 Connections board divides into these four groups: CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, VOTE for agency in decisionmaking; DOWN, HEEL, SHAKE, SPEAK for dog commands; FLAT, NATURAL, QUARTER, WHOLE for kinds of notes; and PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, WAFFLE for “___ IRON.” The decisive trick is keeping FLAT out of the iron group.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBest Value
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the NYT Connections answers for May 27?
The NYT Connections answer for May 27, 2024, puzzle #351 is divided into four groups: CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, VOTE; DOWN, HEEL, SHAKE, SPEAK; FLAT, NATURAL, QUARTER, WHOLE; and PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, WAFFLE. The categories are agency in decisionmaking, dog commands, kinds of notes, and words that precede IRON.
What does FLAT mean in Connections #351?
FLAT belongs in the “kinds of notes” category with NATURAL, QUARTER, and WHOLE. Although “flat iron” is a familiar phrase, FLAT is not part of the purple “___ IRON” group in Connections #351.
What is the purple category in Connections #351?
The purple category is words that can precede IRON: PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, and WAFFLE. The completed phrases are pump iron, steam iron, tire iron, and waffle iron.
The Bottom Line
NYT Connections #351, published May 27, 2024, answers are CHOICE, SAY, VOICE, VOTE; DOWN, HEEL, SHAKE, SPEAK; FLAT, NATURAL, QUARTER, WHOLE; and PUMP, STEAM, TIRE, WAFFLE. FLAT is the central red herring: it suggests “flat iron” but belongs with the musical notes.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
