Issue #991 Wed 31 Dec
Connections hints — December 31, 2025
A steady climb today, with a few lateral traps designed to pull your attention toward the wrong associations. The grid rewards those who look past the obvious and test how these items sit next to one another.
yellow group 7 nudges
Yellow group
You stare at the clock, waiting for the final countdown to begin while the room grows crowded and loud.
Holiday traditions
Common thematic items
Members are 9–15 letters; first letters B, C, F, N.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
One is BALL DROP.
BALL DROP · CHAMPAGNE FLUTE · FIREWORKS · NOISEMAKER
green group 7 nudges
Green group
Where the lawnmower lives, where the mail piles up, where the kids hide.
Sites of loss
Contextual association
Members are 5–16 letters; first letters B, C, D.
PLACES WHERE THINGS DISAPPEAR
One is BERMUDA TRIANGLE.
BERMUDA TRIANGLE · BLACK HOLE · COUCH CUSHIONS · DRYER
blue group 7 nudges
Blue group
A run up the stairs, a specific regional accent, and a history lesson on a bronze plaque.
City landmarks and culture
Direct cultural references
Members are 5–14 letters; first letters B, C, L, R.
ASSOCIATED WITH PHILADELPHIA
One is BROTHERLY LOVE.
BROTHERLY LOVE · CHEESESTEAK · LIBERTY BELL · ROCKY
violet group 7 nudges
Violet group
You take the same route home and a single door is open that's never open.
Linguistic wordplay
Phrases sharing a starting element
Members are 8–13 letters; first letters B, C, S.
STARTING WITH BODIES OF WATER
One is BAY LEAF.
BAY LEAF · CHANNEL SURF · SEA BASS · SOUND BARRIER