Issue #49 Sun 30 Jul
Connections hints — July 30, 2023
Today's grid leans on two direct, thematic groupings alongside a pair of wordplay sequences that require a steady hand. The violet column holds a deceptive trap for those prone to lateral associations.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
The holiday dinner table where you find yourself stuck next to the one person who asks why you aren't married yet.
Sociology and genealogy
Semantic set of related roles
Members are 4–6 letters; first letters A, C, M, N.
RELATIVES
One is AUNT.
AUNT · COUSIN · MOTHER · NEPHEW
green group 7 nudges
Green group
The person at the party wearing a mismatched tie and telling stories that don't quite track with reality.
Adjectives
Direct synonyms
Members are 5–6 letters; first letters D, K, Q, W.
SYNONYMS FOR OFFBEAT
One is DAFFY.
DAFFY · KOOKY · QUIRKY · WACKY
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
Look at a rooster. Look closely. Then look at the Saturday morning cartoons you haven't seen in twenty years.
Pop culture icons
Shared proper names
Members are 5–7 letters; first letters D, S.
DISNEY DUCKS
One is DAISY.
DAISY · DEWEY · DONALD · SCROOGE
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
Whatever you set the night before is what gets you up — for better or worse.
Compound nouns
Suffix-based completion
Members are 5–11 letters; first letters A, B, C, G.
___ CLOCK
One is ALARM.
ALARM · BIOLOGICAL · CUCKOO · GRANDFATHER