Issue #390 Fri 21 Jun
Connections hints — June 21, 2024
Today's grid asks for a steady hand, as three of the four groups rely on linguistic layering. Expect a few misdirection points where common nouns could easily drift into the wrong column.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
Cotton candy stained fingers, the smell of grease, and a line that never seems to move fast enough.
Recreational machinery
Direct synonyms
Members are 12–14 letters; first letters F, M, R, T.
AMUSEMENT PARK RIDES
One is FERRIS WHEEL.
FERRIS WHEEL · MERRY-GO-ROUND · ROLLER COASTER · TILT-A-WHIRL
green group 7 nudges
Green group
A boss nodding while you explain your plan, or that single stamp on a stack of paperwork.
Forms of permission
Synonymous phrases
Members are 8–11 letters; first letters C, G, T.
APPROVAL
One is CLEARANCE.
CLEARANCE · GO-AHEAD · GREEN LIGHT · THUMBS-UP
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
The final minute of the championship game when the scoreboard shows a deficit that shouldn't be possible to overcome.
Narrative tropes
Thematic concepts
Members are 8–17 letters; first letters C, D, R, U.
TYPES OF COME-FROM-BEHIND STORIES
One is CINDERELLA.
CINDERELLA · DAVID-AND-GOLIATH · RAGS-TO-RICHES · UNDERDOG
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
The slow crawl of traffic on a Friday afternoon or a child sitting in the corner after a long day.
Linguistic wordplay
Compound words sharing a prefix
Members are 8–16 letters; first letters B, R, T.
BEGINNING WITH SYNONYMS FOR REAR END
One is BUMPER-TO-BUMPER.
BUMPER-TO-BUMPER · BUTTERMILK · RUMPELSTILTSKIN · TAILGATE