Issue #864 Thu 4 Sep
Connections hints — September 4, 2025
Today's grid offers a steady climb. With two direct associations and a pair of groups that demand a more lateral approach, the solve requires patience.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
Boxes pulled from the attic, a step ladder, and the smell of pine needles filling the living room.
Seasonal decor
Synonyms for decorative additions
Members are 5–13 letters; first letters A, C, S, T.
WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE ON A CHRISTMAS TREE
One is ANGEL.
ANGEL · CANDY CANE · STRING LIGHTS · TINSEL
green group 7 nudges
Green group
You zoom in until the pixels look like squares, adjusting the contrast until the face looks natural again.
Image editing
Synonyms for corrective actions
Members are 3–9 letters; first letters A, F, P, T.
CLEAN UP, AS A PHOTOGRAPH
One is AIRBRUSH.
AIRBRUSH · FIX · PHOTOSHOP · TOUCH UP
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
The menu is entirely in a language you studied for two years in middle school and have since mostly forgotten.
Culinary terminology
Words from a common foreign tongue
Members are 4–12 letters; first letters C, P, V.
FRENCH FOOD WORDS
One is CORNICHON.
CORNICHON · PAIN · PAMPLEMOUSSE · VINAIGRETTE
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
A sheet of graph paper, a beehive in the sun, and the glowing rows of a power grid.
Structural components
Items containing a specific sub-unit
Members are 8–11 letters; first letters H, O, S.
THINGS WITH CELLS
One is HONEYCOMB.
HONEYCOMB · ORGANISM · SOLAR PANEL · SPREADSHEET