If you’re looking for the Connections answer for Friday 5 July 2024, read on – I’ll share some clues, tips and strategies, and finally solutions for all four categories. Along the way, I’ll explain the meanings of trickier words and learn how it all fits together. Warning, spoilers below for July 5th, NYT Connections #390! Read on if you want some advice (and then an answer) for today’s game of Connections.
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Below I’ll give you some slanted hints for today’s Connections answers. And further on the page I will reveal the topics and answers. Move slowly and only take the hints you need!
Credit: Connections/NYT
Topic hints in today’s Connections puzzle
Here are some spoiler-free tips for teaming up in today’s Connections:
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Yellow category – Deep feeling that you want something.
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Green category – You can buy these publications at the cash register of a grocery store, for example.
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Blue category – iconic characters of the British spy franchise.
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Purple category – subgenres of the sparkling, casual type of music often played on the radio.
WARNING: Spoilers ahead for today’s Connections puzzle!
We are about to reveal some of the answers. Scroll slowly if you don’t want it all messed up. (The full solution is a bit below.)
Warning for complex parts
YEN and EURO are both currencies but have different meanings today. (I had to google YEN, totally transparent.)
PINE is a verb and does not go together with NATURE.
What’s wrong with K?
POWER and FORTUNE are things that someone ambitious might aspire to, but they don’t go together.
What are the categories in today’s Connections?
DOUBLE ATTENTION: THE SOLUTION IS BELOW
Are you ready to learn the answers to today’s Connections puzzle? I’m giving them all away below.
What are the yellow words in today’s Connections?
The yellow grouping is considered the most direct. The theme for today’s yellow group is YEAR and the words are: LONGING, LONG, PINE, JUST.
What are the green words in today’s Connections?
The green grouping is supposed to be the second easiest. The theme for today’s green category is MAGAZINES and the words are: FORTUNE, MAD, NATURE, O.
What are the blue words in today’s Connections?
The blue grouping is the second hardest. The theme for today’s blue category is BOND CHARACTERS and the words are: BOND, M, MONEYPENNY, Q.
What are the purple words in today’s Connections?
The purple grouping is considered the toughest. The theme for today’s purple category is WORDS PRECEDING “POP” IN MUSIC GENRES and the words are: BUBBLEGUM, EURO, K, POWER.
How I solved today’s Connections
After a quick scan, I see two potential categories: currency types and bond characters.
Bond seems easier to get, so take them: BOND, M, Q, MONEYPENNY. ðŸ¦
EURO and JEN are the only two currencies I’m sure of, so I’ll keep looking around.
EURO and POWER could be part of the “___ TRIP” category, but I’m not sure yet.
DESIRE, PINE, and LONG seem like synonyms for wanting something, but I don’t know what else could go with it. I have a hunch that YEN and EURO may not actually be currency references, so I do a bit of googling and find that YEN can they also refer to desire. 🨀
Hmm, the last eight words are tricky: NATURE, O, FORTUNE, and MAD might be publications, but they seem a bit out of place. NATURE is a scientific journal and the rest are more informal journals. Oh, maybe Yippee correct because the other four words look like pop genres. Let’s try it. 🟩 Yay!
This means that BUBBLEGUM, EURO, K and POWER are all types of pop music. 🪪
Connections Puzzle #390 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪
How to play Connections
I have a full a guide to playing Connectionsbut here is a reiteration of the rules:
First, find the Connections game either on the New York Times website or in their Games app (formerly the Crossword app). You will see a game board with 16 tiles, each containing one word or phrase. Your task is to select a group of four tiles that have something in common. It’s often the same type of thing (for example: RAIN, SLEET, GRILLET, and SNOW are all types of wet weather), but sometimes there’s wordplay involved (for example, BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH are all types of lists: bucket list, guest list and so on).
Select the four items and press Submit. If you guessed correctly, the category and color will be displayed. (Yellow is the easiest, followed by green, then blue and purple.) If your guess was wrong, you’ll have the chance to try again.
You win if you correctly identify all four groups. But if you make four mistakes before you finish, it’s game over and the answers are revealed.
How to win Connections
The most important thing you need to know to win Connections is that matchups are designed to be tricky. Expect to see overlapping groups. For example, one puzzle appeared to have six breakfast items: BACON, EGGS, PANCAKES, OMELETTE, WAFFLES, and CEREAL. However, BACON turned out to be part of the painter group along with CLOSE, MUNCH and WHISTLER, and EGG was in the group of things that come by the dozen (along with JUROR, ROSE and MONTH). So don’t click “submit” until you’ve confirmed your party of four is included only the four things.
If you’re stuck, another strategy is to look at words that seem to have No connection with others. If when you see WHISTLER, the only image that comes to mind is the nickname “Whistler’s Mother,” then you might be on to something. When I solved this, I ended up googling if there was a painter named Close, because Close didn’t fit any of the obvious themes either.
Of course, another way to win when you’re stuck is to read some helpful advice – that’s why we share these tips every day. Come back tomorrow for another puzzle!