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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Need a hint for Connections #301? The April 7, 2024 puzzle groups its 16 words around a disorderly place, sturdiness, Cracker Jack contents, and phrases ending in “horse.” Spoilers follow: the hints come first, with the complete groups below.
Hints for Connections #301
Try these clues before checking the answers. They move from a broad association toward the category idea:
- An untidy bedroom could be described as this kind of place.
- Think of words meaning robust or dependable.
- Look for familiar elements of a snack brand.
- Each word in the last group can come before “horse.”
Answers for April 7, 2024
The grid contained CRAZY, PEANUTS, PRIZE, FIRM, PIGPEN, SOUND, GIFT, CHARLEY, STABLE, STY, DARK, CARAMEL, DUMP, POPCORN, SOLID, and MESS. The four solutions are:
| Color | Category | Words |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | DISORDERLY PLACE | DUMP, MESS, PIGPEN, STY |
| Green | STURDY | FIRM, SOLID, SOUND, STABLE |
| Blue | FOUND IN CRACKER JACKS | CARAMEL, PEANUTS, POPCORN, PRIZE |
| Purple | ___ HORSE | CHARLEY, CRAZY, DARK, GIFT |
What makes the groups tricky
Yellow: DISORDERLY PLACE
DUMP, MESS, PIGPEN, and STY can all describe a messy or disorderly place. “Pigpen” and “sty” make the animal connection tempting, but the category is about the place, not a set of animals.
#1 Best Overall
Green: STURDY
FIRM, SOLID, SOUND, and STABLE each suggest strength or reliability. “Sound” can also suggest something heard, while “stable” may point to horses; here, both are adjectives in the sturdiness group.
Blue: FOUND IN CRACKER JACKS
CARAMEL, PEANUTS, POPCORN, and PRIZE connect to Cracker Jack: the snack includes caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts, and the familiar package has a prize.
Rank #2
Purple: ___ HORSE
CHARLEY, CRAZY, DARK, and GIFT complete the phrases “Charley horse,” “crazy horse,” “dark horse,” and “gift horse.” This group depends on adding the same word after each grid entry.
How to approach a Connections grid
Connections asks players to sort 16 words into four groups of four based on shared themes. The New York Times says each group has a color, with yellow the easiest and purple the trickiest. It also notes that words can seem to fit multiple categories: “Each puzzle has exactly one solution and is meant to be tricky by having words that could fit into multiple categories.” (NYT Help Center)
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Rank #3
- Scan the whole grid. Look for two or three words with a clear relationship before settling on a category.
- Test a fourth word. Ask whether it genuinely completes the same pattern, rather than merely sharing a loose association.
- Check for competing meanings. Words such as SOUND and STABLE have more than one plausible use, so keep alternatives open until the full group fits.
- Submit only when the set holds together. The intended solution is one complete group of four, not a collection of near-matches.
Playing and replaying Connections
The New York Times Help Center says the daily puzzle is free to play on its listed platforms, including the NYT Games website and apps, and releases at midnight in the player’s timezone. Its help page says the archive goes back to June 12, 2023 and is available to Games and All Access subscribers. Access terms can change; check the official Connections help page for current details.
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