Start with the spoiler-free hints. Go deeper only when you need to. Reveal answers on your own terms.
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.
It sounds like a weather phenomenon, but here it's the first part of a phrase that homophones with 'El' sounding like 'L' spelled out (Elle) — a name homophone.
Could be mistaken for a place (like customs at the airport) related to conveyor belts, but actually belongs to the unwritten rules group.
Might seem like something you do at an airport (baggage claim) or a store, but it's actually about reconnecting with someone.
CHECK IN, FOLLOW UP, RECONNECT, and TOUCH BASE are all phrases for contacting someone again. This is a straightforward, easy-to-spot group.
CONVENTION, CUSTOM, SOCIAL NORM, and UNWRITTEN RULE all describe shared standards or practices in a group or society. The clues are fairly direct.
ASSEMBLY LINE, BAGGAGE CLAIM, CHECKOUT LANE, and REVOLVING SUSHI BAR all feature conveyor belts for moving items. The challenge is seeing the common physical feature across different contexts.
CARRY-ON starts with a homophone of 'Carrie,' EL NIÑO starts with a homophone of 'Elle' (L), LOOSEY-GOOSEY starts with a homophone of 'Lucy,' and TAILOR-MADE starts with a homophone of 'Taylor.' The trick is hearing the names hidden in the first syllables.
a textbook decoy
requires lateral thinking
Solving the easiest group first reshapes how you read the entire board.
The editors reuse certain misdirection patterns. Learning to spot them saves guesses.
Purple is never what it first appears to be. Six structural patterns explain most of them.
Film titles, band names, and celebrity surnames hide in plain sight.
