Today's NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 15, #949

# NYT Connections Hints, Answers, and Help for January 15, #949 The New York Times Connections puzzle continues to captivate word enthusiasts worldwide, offering a fresh challenge every day. If you've landed here, chances are today's grid for January 15, 2024, puzzle #949, has you scratching your head. Don't worry, we're here to guide you through the trickiest groups without immediately giving everything away. Connections tests your ability to spot subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) relationships between words. Your goal is to sort 16 words into four groups of four, each linked by a common theme. But with misdirection and overlapping concepts, it's often harder than it looks! ## General Tips for Solving NYT Connections Before diving into today's specific puzzle, here are a few universal strategies that can help you improve your game: * **Look for the Obvious First:** Are there any words that immediately scream "category" together? Sometimes the easiest group is right in front of you. * **Beware of Red Herrings:** The game designers are clever. They'll often include words that *could* belong to multiple categories to throw you off. * **Consider Word Forms:** Pay attention to whether words are nouns, verbs, adjectives, or even slang. * **Think Broadly and Specifically:** Some categories are very literal, while others require a more abstract connection. * **One-Away Rule:** Remember you only get four mistakes. If you're down to one life, be extra cautious! ## Today's NYT Connections Hints (January 15, #949) Below are some subtle hints to help you figure out the categories for today's puzzle. Try to solve them on your own before scrolling down for the full answers! ### Yellow Category Hint This group relates to common **things found at a picnic or outdoor gathering**. ### Green Category Hint Think about **ways things can break or become divided**. These words describe a common action. ### Blue Category Hint The words in this category are all related to **stages or aspects of a flower's life cycle**. ### Purple Category Hint This is the trickiest one! Consider words that can be followed by the word "**OFF**" to form a common phrase or action. --- ## NYT Connections Answers for January 15, #949 (SPOILERS AHEAD!) If you're still stuck, or just want to confirm your guesses, here are the full solutions for today's NYT Connections puzzle. --- ### Yellow Category Answer **PICNIC FOODS** * **COLESLAW** * **POTATOSALAD** * **SANDWICH** * **WATERMELON** ### Green Category Answer **BREAK APART** * **CRACK** * **FRACTURE** * **RUPTURE** * **SPLIT** ### Blue Category Answer **PARTS OF A FLOWER** * **BUD** * **PETAL** * **POLLEN** * **STEM** ### Purple Category Answer **WORDS BEFORE "OFF"** * **KICK** (kick off) * **LAUGH** (laugh off) * **PEEL** (peel off) * **TELL** (tell off) --- How did you do today? Whether you aced it or needed a little help, we hope these hints and answers got you through today's challenge. Come back tomorrow for more help with the next NYT Connections puzzle!