Connections is back with another daily brain teaser—and Newsweek is on hand to help with tips, hints, and the answers for those who need them.
Launched in June 2023, the latest New York Times daily puzzle offering has shored up a large fanbase, with players returning each day to try to beat it.
Each puzzle consists of 16 words, with each group of words separated into four categories, and players need to figure out the common thread between each category: yellow, green, blue and purple. To use a previous example, a category could be describing measuring instruments, and the answers would be compass, ruler, scale, and watch.
Words can often belong in two categories, to add a layer of difficulty. However, each group must consist of four individual words, with no repeated answers. Groups are more difficult according to their color, with yellow being the easiest, then green, blue, and finally purple being the hardest category to crack.
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The game’s editor, Wyna Liu of The New York Times, said there are varying levels of difficulty between the categories given each day: “Some categories might be defined by their use of wordplay—palindromes, homophones, adding or dropping letters and words —rather than the literal meanings of the words on the cards. I saw three areas of potential difficulty that could be adjusted: the familiarity of the words, the ambiguity of their categorization and the variety of the wordplay.”
While it may seem as though multiple words could fit together, tread with caution: there is only one correct answer. If all four words are correctly placed into each set, those words will be removed from the board. Each incorrect guess counts toward the mistake tally. Players can make up to four mistakes before the game is up and no more chances are given.
Players are also permitted to “shuffle” the board, which can help make the puzzle easier.
‘Connections’ #307 Clues for Saturday, April 13
Yellow: These words are associated with well-known traveling performance groups.
Green: A very famous film from the 1930s, starring Judy Garland.
Blue: Also relating to films, but in the production of them.
Purple: Lyrics from a 1970s song by The Steve Miller Band.
‘Connections’ #307 Answers for Saturday, April 13
Yellow category: SEEN AT THE CIRCUS
Yellow words: clown, ring, tent, trapeze.
Green: WIZARD OF OZ FIGURES
Green words: lion, scarecrow, witch, wizard.
Blue: FILM DEPARTMENTS
Blue words: hair, makeup, props, wardrobe.
Purple: I’M A ___ (LYRICS IN THE JOKER)
Purple words: joker, lover, sinner, smoker.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.