Another day, another brain-teasing Connections puzzle from the New York Times! If you're staring at today's 16 words feeling completely stumped, you're not alone. October 31st brings a particularly tricky selection that's leaving even seasoned players scratching their heads.
What is NYT Connections?
For those new to the craze, Connections challenges players to group 16 words into four secret categories of four words each. The categories can range from straightforward themes to clever wordplay that requires thinking outside the box. Today's puzzle, number 873, definitely falls into the latter category!
Today's Word Selection
The 16 words you're working with today are: BUCKET, CLOUD, DROP, RAIN, BOW, CUP, HAT, TRICK, BAG, TRUNK, TRIP, PACK, CAR, RIDE, TRAIN, and PLANE. Quite the eclectic mix, isn't it?
Progressive Hints (Without Spoiling the Fun)
Mild Hints to Get You Started
- One category involves different types of containers or things that hold other items
- Think about transportation methods - but not all transportation words belong together!
- Weather phenomena play a role in one grouping
- Consider phrases that begin with the same word
Medium Hints for When You're Stuck
- The yellow (easiest) category involves various types of bags or carrying cases
- Green category: All these words can follow "car" to form common phrases
- Blue group: Think about things associated with rainfall and weather
- Purple (trickiest) category: All can follow "trick" in common expressions
The Complete Solution Revealed
Yellow Category (Easiest) - TYPES OF BAGS
BUCKET, CUP, HAT, TRICK - These might seem random until you realize they're all types of bags! A bucket bag, cup bag (as in Stanley Cup), hat bag, and trick bag complete this clever category.
Green Category - THINGS THAT CAN FOLLOW "CAR"
BOW, POOL, RIDE, TRAIN - Each forms a common phrase with "car": car bow (as in bow tie on a car), car pool, car ride, and car train.
Blue Category - RAIN-RELATED WORDS
CLOUD, DROP, RAIN, BOW - The most straightforward category, these are all directly associated with rainfall and weather conditions.
Purple Category (Trickiest) - WORDS THAT FOLLOW "TRICK"
BAG, TRIP, PACK, PLANE - This is the real brain-twister! Each can follow "trick" to form trick bag, trick trip, trick pack, and trick plane.
Why Today's Puzzle is Particularly Challenging
What makes #873 so difficult is the overlapping relationships between words. Notice how BOW appears in both the green and blue categories? And TRICK serves double duty in yellow and purple? This clever wordplay is what separates Connections from other word games and keeps players coming back daily.
Tips for Mastering Future Puzzles
- Look for words that can serve multiple functions or belong to different categories
- Consider compound words and common phrases
- Don't get stuck on your first interpretation - sometimes words have secondary meanings
- Pay attention to words that might be verbs, nouns, or adjectives depending on context
Whether you solved today's puzzle independently or needed a little help, remember that the real victory is in the mental exercise. The Connections puzzle provides excellent cognitive stimulation and vocabulary building - perfect for keeping your mind sharp!
Come back tomorrow for another round of word-based challenges and see if you can maintain your winning streak. Happy puzzling!
