NYT Connections Hints & Answers – August 4, #785
Decoding Today’s NYT Connections: Hints and Solutions for June 13th
Table of Contents
The New York Times’ daily word game, connections, has become a morning ritual for many.But let’s be honest, sometimes those connections feel… elusive! If you’re staring at the grid on June 13th and need a little nudge, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll break down each category, offering hints and, the solutions. Be warned: spoilers ahead!
Understanding the Categories
Today’s Connections puzzle features four categories, each with four words. The goal? Group the words that share a common thread. Here’s a look at what you’re up against:
Yellow: Words associated with the alphabet.
Green: Common phrases. Purple: Words that sound like two letters.
Blue: Things you might give for a good performance.
Category Breakdown & Hints
Let’s tackle each category one by one, starting with the trickiest.
Yellow Category: Alphabetical Associations
This category proved to be a bit of a stumper for many players. The connections here are all about how letters are used in common sayings or childhood learning tools.
Hint: Think back to learning your ABCs… and a certain sugary cereal.
words: APPLE, EFFORT, VENDETTA, JACKS
The solution revolves around phrases starting with these letters. “A is for apple” is well-known to kids learning their ABCs, or to Gen Xers and others who remember that lyric from an Apple Jacks cereal commercial. (NYT editors, you missed an possibility to include “J is for jacks.”) “V for vendetta” can refer to the 2005 movie of the same name – and it’s probably why this category is phrased so awkwardly, because it’s not “V is for vendetta.” The always-grammatically correct NYT editors put the word “is” in parentheses, as it’s not used here. the last one is likely referring to “A for effort,” an expression meaning you get good marks for trying, though some people online are suggesting “E for effort,” which doesn’t quite fit.
Green Category: Familiar Phrases
This category centers around well-known expressions.
Hint: These are things you might say to encourage someone,or things you’d find in a comforting setting.
Words: COOKIE, MONSTER, HIGH, FIVE
“C is for cookie” is a Sesame Street song sung by (who else?) Cookie Monster. “High five” is a celebratory gesture, and “five” is also a number.
purple Category: Words That Sound Like Two Letters
This category plays on pronunciation and phonetic similarities. Hint: Pay close attention to how you say these words,not just what they mean.
words: DECAY, EASY, GEO, ZITI
The purple category might not be as tough for Americans as for people playing the game in other countries. The category is words that sound like two letters. “Decay” is D-K, ”easy” is E-Z, “geo” is G-O and ziti is “Z-T.” But of course many countries don’t say “zee” for Z, they say ”zed,” so ziti could be confusing. And some people pronounce decay more like “duh-kay,” so that might also be tricky.
Blue Category: Recognition for Performance
This category focuses on ways we acknowledge a job well done.
Hint: These are things you might receive after a performance, or expressions of encouragement.
Words: ROUND, APPLAUSE, STANDING, OVATION
These all relate to acknowledging a good performance. A “round” of applause, “standing” ovation, and simply “applause” itself are all ways to show recognition.