Issue #492 Tue 17 Sep
Connections hints — September 17, 2024
A steady day for the grid, balancing clear-cut clusters with a handful of linguistic sidesteps. Keep an eye on the wordplay, as several entries hold more than one potential home.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
The energy in the locker room before the clock starts, or the frantic pacing of a coach before the final whistle.
Expressions of enthusiasm
Words sharing a common suffix
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters A, F, H, P.
GET EXCITED, WITH "UP"
One is AMP.
AMP · FIRE · HYPE · PSYCH
green group 7 nudges
Green group
Something you would do to a pair of shoes before a job interview.
Footwear styles
Direct classification
Members are 4–5 letters; first letters F, M, P, S.
KINDS OF SHOES
One is FLAT.
FLAT · MULE · PUMP · SLIDE
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
A gavel hitting the wood, a roll call in a cavernous hall, and the quiet tension of a vote count.
Governmental positions
Functional titles
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters C, L, S, W.
LEGISLATIVE ROLES
One is CHAIR.
CHAIR · LEADER · SPEAKER · WHIP
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
Reading a list of names aloud, only to realize the spelling is a distraction from the sound.
Linguistic equivalents
Homophones
Members are 3–5 letters; first letters D, M, P.
NAME HOMOPHONES
One is DUG.
DUG · MATTE · MIC · PEAT