Issue #865 Sat 20 Sep
Connections hints — September 20, 2025
Today's grid asks for a steady hand. With four distinct buckets and a few items that pull double duty, you will need to sort carefully before committing to your final placement.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
The keys sitting on the kitchen counter, waiting for the weekend drive.
Automotive industry
Proper nouns sharing a common vertical market
Members are 3–7 letters; first letters D, F, L, R.
CAR BRANDS
One is DODGE.
DODGE · FORD · LINCOLN · RAM
green group 7 nudges
Green group
The grease on your fingertips after the third quarter of the game.
Pub appetizers
Individual components of a shared menu item
Members are 3–4 letters; first letters C, D, F, W.
BIT OF SPORTS BAR FARE
One is CHIP.
CHIP · DIP · FRY · WING
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
The souvenir jersey hanging in the closet long after the season ends.
Professional sports
Singular identifiers for franchise participants
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters D, F, S.
N.H.L. TEAM MEMBER
One is DUCK.
DUCK · FLYER · SENATOR · STAR
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
Looking up through the gap between two tall office buildings.
Wordplay compounds
All-share-suffix phrases
Members are 4–7 letters; first letters D, L, R, S.
SKY___
One is DIVE.
DIVE · LARK · ROCKET · SCRAPER