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Hints for Connections #277
Try these clues in order, pausing between them if you want to keep solving:
- Think of a phrase for a film that performs exceptionally well.
- ROW and MOO belong in the same group.
- One category completes the pattern “___-O.”
The 16 words
PIE, DAY, NEW, WINNER, SPIKE, ROW, HIT, JELL, SUCCESS, BUMP, JACKIE, SET, DADDY, MOO, SERVE, SMASH.
Spoiler: the answers
| Category | Words | How the group works |
|---|---|---|
| BOX OFFICE VICTORY | HIT, SMASH, SUCCESS, WINNER | Each can describe a success, including a successful film. |
| VOLLEYBALL MOVES | BUMP, SERVE, SET, SPIKE | All are actions or plays in volleyball. |
| HOMOPHONES OF GREEK LETTERS | MOO, NEW, PIE, ROW | They sound like the names mu, nu, pi, and rho. |
| ___-O | DADDY, DAY, JACKIE, JELL | Each completes a familiar expression: Daddy-O, day-o, Jackie-O, and Jell-O. |
What this puzzle asks you to notice
The board mixes several relationship types rather than relying on one obvious theme: shared meaning, a common activity, sound-alikes, and words that complete a phrase. If one set of four seems promising, check whether a word could also fit another category before submitting it; these overlapping possibilities are the decoys that make group puzzles trickier.
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The answer guide describes Connections as a game of sorting 16 words into four groups of four, with four mistakes allowed, and advises watching for decoys and wordplay. Those pointers are useful here: the Greek-letter group depends on pronunciation, while the “___-O” group depends on completing phrases rather than matching definitions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to approach a similar Connections board
- Scan for clear meaning-based groups. Look for words that can describe the same thing, as HIT, SMASH, SUCCESS, and WINNER do here.
- Check for shared activities or domains. Several words may belong to a sport, job, or other familiar setting; this puzzle’s volleyball terms are BUMP, SERVE, SET, and SPIKE.
- Test sound and phrase patterns. Say candidates aloud to catch homophones, and try placing words into a repeated blank such as “___-O.”
- Recheck ambiguous words before locking in a group. A plausible connection is not necessarily the intended one when a word could be a decoy for another set.
The March 14, 2024 date and #277 identifier are listed by both Fortnite Insider’s puzzle guide and the Unscramble It archive.
Quick Recap
Rank #2
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