The Tuesday edition of NYT Connections arrives with puzzle #947, serving up a grid that rewards both gift-wrapping expertise and anatomical wordplay. Today's challenge particularly favors those who can spot board game accessories and clever homophone constructions.
What Makes Connections Tick
For newcomers, NYT Connections presents 16 words that must be sorted into four thematic groups of four. The twist?
You're limited to four mistakes, and the color-coded difficulty system (yellow being easiest, purple being trickiest) means surface-level connections often mislead.
Since its June 2023 launch, Connections has carved out its niche in the Times' puzzle ecosystem, standing alongside Wordle and the crossword as a daily ritual for millions of players worldwide. The game's genius lies in its red herrings, words that could fit multiple categories but belong in only one.
Today's Grid at a Glance
Here are the 16 words staring back at you in puzzle #947:
SHOULDER | BOWTIE | PARCH | ELBOW
WHEEL | RANKLE | RIBBON | CANE
PRESS | BOW | TOP HAT | CARD
OTOE | MONEYBAG | GIFT WRAP | SHOVE
A seemingly random collection that somehow connects into four perfect categories.
Strategic Hints (No Spoilers Yet)
Yellow Category Nudge: Think about what you add to a present before giving it.
Green Category Clue: These are all ways to physically move someone aside.
Blue Category Hint: Look for items associated with a certain wealthy board game character.
Purple Category Teaser: Each word combines a body part with a starting letter to form a new word.
The Full Solutions
Last chance to solve independently: answers below
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Yellow (Present Go-Withs): BOW, CARD, GIFT WRAP, RIBBON
These four words all represent decorative elements or accompaniments for gifts. The bow, card, gift wrap, and ribbon are standard components of gift presentation.
Green (Jostle): ELBOW, PRESS, SHOULDER, SHOVE
Each term describes a physical action used to push or move through a crowd. These are all verbs (or can be used as verbs) for making one's way through tight spaces.
Blue (Accessories for Mr. Monopoly): BOWTIE, CANE, MONEYBAG, TOP HAT
These items complete the iconic look of the Monopoly board game mascot. Mr. Monopoly (formerly known as Rich Uncle Pennybags) is instantly recognizable by these four accessories.
Purple (Parts of the Foot Plus Starting Letter): OTOE, PARCH, RANKLE, WHEEL
This clever category requires adding a starting letter to a foot part to form a new word. "O" + "toe" = OTOE, "P" + "arch" = PARCH, "R" + "ankle" = RANKLE, and "W" + "heel" = WHEEL.
The Verdict
Puzzle #947 registers as moderate difficulty with a particularly clever purple category. Yellow falls quickly for anyone who's wrapped presents, while green requires thinking about physical movement verbs.
Blue separates board game enthusiasts from casual players. Purple, predictably, is the streak-ender - that foot-plus-letter construction won't reveal itself without serious lateral thinking.
The real trap lies in words like "BOW" and "BOWTIE" appearing to belong together, or "SHOULDER" and "ELBOW" suggesting a body parts category that doesn't actually exist. "WHEEL" could mislead toward transportation, while "CARD" might suggest playing cards rather than gift cards.
Reset and Repeat
Tomorrow's puzzle drops at midnight in your timezone. Until then, reflect on today's performance: Did you spot the Monopoly connection immediately, or did the foot-plus-letter category stump you?
The beauty lies not in perfection but in training your brain to spot these hidden patterns.
For now, puzzle #947 is solved. See you at midnight for round #948.
