Connections September 7, 2026: Hints & Answers (#1262)
Recap
The connections between the cards were based on their meanings, components, associations, and starting points. Solvers had to think creatively to group FABRICATION, FISH STORY, TALL TALE, and YARN together, and similarly for the other categories.
The sixteen tiles
The sixteen tiles as dealt. Reveal a group below to tint and caption its tiles here.
Connections hints, one rung at a time
Six rungs, softest first. The recap above already named the groups, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying the board fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.
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Hint 1: Four one-line nudges, one per group
The softest hint there is.
- Yellow
- Exaggerated story
- Green
- Intimate apparel
- Blue
- Evergreen links
- Purple
- Disney-inspired
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Hint 2: What linked each group, described
Still no titles and no tiles named.
Yellow group
These phrases describe a long, fanciful tale or a made-up story.
Green group
These words are related to the components of a woman's undergarment.
Blue group
These terms are connected to trees with needle-like leaves or their byproducts.
Purple group
These phrases start with the names of beloved characters from a famous animation studio.
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Hint 3: Board facts
Counted off the sixteen printed tiles.
Sixteen tiles, four groups of four, ordered yellow → green → blue → purple from most to least obvious. 5 of the sixteen tiles were more than one word.
- Tiles
- 16 across 4 groups
- Longest tile
- 17 characters
- Shortest tile
- 3 characters
- Multi-word tiles
- 5
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Hint 4: The trap on this board
Which tiles pulled in two directions.
Some cards could fit into multiple categories at first glance. Be cautious with words like YARN, which could relate to crafting or storytelling, and NEEDLES, which could be related to sewing or trees.
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Hint 5: The four category titles
Half the answer.
- Yellow
- QUITE THE SAGA
- Green
- PARTS OF A BRA
- Blue
- ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES
- Purple
- STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS
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Hint 6: One tile from each group
The anchor most people misplaced, matched to its title.
- Yellow — QUITE THE SAGA
- FABRICATION
- Green — PARTS OF A BRA
- UNDERWIRE
- Blue — ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES
- TURPENTINE
- Purple — STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS
- PLUTONIUM
Every Connections group from that board
All four groups, folded. Opening one tints its four tiles above and captions them with the category name.
Yellow group · 4 tiles
QUITE THE SAGA
FABRICATION, FISH STORY, TALL TALE, YARN. The yellow group, 'QUITE THE SAGA', includes FABRICATION, FISH STORY, TALL TALE, and YARN, all referring to made-up or exaggerated stories.
Green group · 4 tiles
PARTS OF A BRA
CUP, HOOK, STRAP, UNDERWIRE. The green group, 'PARTS OF A BRA', consists of CUP, HOOK, STRAP, and UNDERWIRE, which are components of a bra.
Blue group · 4 tiles
ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES
CAR AIR FRESHENER, CHRISTMAS, NEEDLES, TURPENTINE. The blue group, 'ASSOCIATED WITH PINE TREES', features CAR AIR FRESHENER, CHRISTMAS, NEEDLES, and TURPENTINE, all connected to pine trees or their products.
Purple group · 4 tiles
STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS
PLUTONIUM, SCAR TISSUE, STITCH MARKER, TRAMPOLINE. The purple group, 'STARTING WITH DISNEY CHARACTERS', includes PLUTONIUM, SCAR TISSUE, STITCH MARKER, and TRAMPOLINE, which start with the names of Disney characters.
This board by the numbers
- Puzzle
- (#1262) · Monday, September 7, 2026
- Tiles
- 16 in a 4 × 4 grid
- Groups
- 4, yellow to purple
- Multi-word tiles
- 5
- Longest tile
- CAR AIR FRESHENER
- Mistakes allowed
- 4 before the board locked
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