Start with the spoiler-free clues. Reveal the answers only when you've truly given up.
A direction for each group — no names given.
What kind of thinking each group asks for.
Pointed nudges on the words built to fool you.
Every Connections board plants a few decoys. Here are today's, and why they pull you the wrong way.
LEAP sounds like a happy action, but it's not a music button or a drink verb — it's a definition of 'spring', making it easy to lump with the music player group.
BOUND can mean 'leap' too, so players might try to pair it with LEAP or the spring group, but it actually belongs to the 'destined' synonyms.
SKIP can also mean to jump or omit, so it might be confused with LEAP or the spring group, yet it's a music player button.
PLAY, REPEAT, SHUFFLE, and SKIP are the standard controls you'd see on any music app or player. It's straightforward once you think of media controls.
BOUND, CERTAIN, FATED, and SURE all describe something that is inevitable or guaranteed. They're all adjectives meaning 'definitely going to happen'.
GARNISH, MUDDLE, POUR, and STIR are the key actions when preparing a mojito: muddle mint, pour rum, stir, and garnish with lime. A bit niche but logical for cocktail lovers.
COIL (a spring metal), FOUNTAIN (a water spring), LEAP (to spring), and SEASON (spring season) are all distinct meanings of the word 'spring'. The trick is seeing the wordplay rather than the literal objects.
a textbook decoy
requires lateral thinking
