Issue #116 Thu 5 Oct
Connections hints — October 5, 2023
A grid requiring a steady hand to separate the literal from the phonetic. Today's puzzle offers a standard distribution of categories, rewarding those who look past the obvious surface-level associations.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
A corporate org chart left on a desk, showing how the local office connects to the larger parent company.
Organizational structures
Synonyms for parts of a whole
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters A, B, C, W.
DIVISION
One is ARM.
ARM · BRANCH · CHAPTER · WING
green group 7 nudges
Green group
The dusty scale in a feed store or the old weights sitting on a farmhouse mantle.
Traditional measurements
Standardized weight and volume units
Members are 3–6 letters; first letters B, P, S, T.
IMPERIAL UNITS
One is BUSHEL.
BUSHEL · PECK · STONE · TON
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
Buying a ticket at the window and hoping the home team keeps the score close until the ninth.
Professional sports
Truncated proper nouns
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters A, C, M, R.
M.L.B. TEAM MEMBER
One is ANGEL.
ANGEL · CUB · MET · RED
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
A picnic interrupted by an uninvited guest, or the sound of a name that makes you turn your head.
Linguistic play
Homophones for small creatures
Members are 3–6 letters; first letters A, B, F, N.
INSECT HOMOPHONES
One is AUNT.
AUNT · BEATLE · FLEE · NAT