Play Connections #1164
These are the 16 words in the order NYT shows them. Tap four words you think belong together and press Submit. You get four mistakes, and we'll tell you when you are one word away. Nothing is saved, so you can practise without touching your real streak.
Connections #1164 hints
Yellow is usually the easiest group and purple the trickiest. Start with one colour and see if the rest falls into place.
Hints used: 0
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Yellow group hintGentle hint
Glitzy sights you'd find outside a star-studded opening night.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Each answer is a two-word phrase whose initials are the same pair of letters.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
All of these share a bold hue you'd see in a sunset or on a pumpkin.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Each of these is rough, coarse or tough in texture or attitude.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several answers feel like glamorous Hollywood extras, such as a luxury aircraft and a movie-related phrase, which tempts you to lump them with the premiere items.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- SEEN AT A MOVIE PREMIERE
- PJS
- THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE
- THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY
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Difficulty: Hard. The sneaky last category depends on a bit of pop culture and sports trivia, and some answers could plausibly fit two groups.
Connections #1164 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for August 18, 2026, with why each word fits.
Reveal one group at a time
Each colour opens in three steps: one word from the group, then the group name, then all four words. Stop as soon as you can finish it yourself.
Show one word
LIMOUSINE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is SEEN AT A MOVIE PREMIERE.
Show all four words
LIMOUSINE, PAPARAZZI, RED CARPET, VELVET ROPE
Show one word
PETROLEUM JELLY is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PJS.
Show all four words
PETROLEUM JELLY, POETIC JUSTICE, PRACTICAL JOKE, PRIVATE JET
Show one word
BASKETBALL is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE.
Show all four words
BASKETBALL, ORANGUTAN, SWEET POTATO, TRAFFIC CONE
Show one word
COWBOY COFFEE is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY.
Show all four words
COWBOY COFFEE, FILM NOIR, FLYERS MASCOT, SANDPAPER
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- LIMOUSINE: Stars arrive in a stretch car at premieres.
- PAPARAZZI: Photographers swarm celebrities on arrival.
- RED CARPET: Celebrities walk it for photos at premieres.
- VELVET ROPE: Keeps the crowd back from the VIP entrance.
- PETROLEUM JELLY: Initials P.J.; a common ointment brand type.
- POETIC JUSTICE: Initials P.J.; deserved outcome or a 1993 movie.
- PRACTICAL JOKE: Initials P.J.; a prank played on someone.
- PRIVATE JET: Initials P.J.; a luxury aircraft.
- BASKETBALL: Classic hoops balls are orange.
- ORANGUTAN: This great ape has shaggy orange fur.
- SWEET POTATO: Its flesh and skin are often orange.
- TRAFFIC CONE: Road safety cones are bright orange.
Purple group explained
- COWBOY COFFEE: Brewed with loose grounds, so it's gritty.
- FILM NOIR: A dark, hard-edged, gritty crime style.
- FLYERS MASCOT: Philadelphia's furry orange mascot is named Gritty.
- SANDPAPER: A rough abrasive sheet covered in grit.
What does FLYERS MASCOT mean?
Gritty is the shaggy, bright orange, googly-eyed monster who represents the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team. Introduced in 2018, he quickly became an internet celebrity. He fits the gritty group by name, and he is also orange.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 17 | #1163 | STARTING WITH PETS |
| Aug 16 | #1162 | DESCRIPTORS FOR OUR HUMAN ANCESTORS |
| Aug 15 | #1161 | ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR FOLLOW SECRETLY |
| Aug 14 | #1160 | TRIANGLE LOGOS |
| Aug 13 | #1159 | "COLD" THINGS, IN IDIOMS |
| Aug 12 | #1158 | STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES |
| Aug 11 | #1157 | HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES |
About Connections
Connections is a daily New York Times puzzle where you sort 16 words into four groups of four. Groups are colour-coded from yellow, the most direct, to purple, which usually relies on wordplay. You can make four mistakes. Looking back at past puzzles is one of the best ways to learn the kinds of tricks the editors like to use.
Other puzzles on Aug 18
Connections #1164 questions
What were the Connections answers on August 18, 2026?
SEEN AT A MOVIE PREMIERE: LIMOUSINE, PAPARAZZI, RED CARPET, VELVET ROPE. PJS: PETROLEUM JELLY, POETIC JUSTICE, PRACTICAL JOKE, PRIVATE JET. THINGS THAT ARE ORANGE: BASKETBALL, ORANGUTAN, SWEET POTATO, TRAFFIC CONE. THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY: COWBOY COFFEE, FILM NOIR, FLYERS MASCOT, SANDPAPER.
What was the purple group in Connections #1164?
THINGS THAT ARE GRITTY: COWBOY COFFEE, FILM NOIR, FLYERS MASCOT, SANDPAPER.
What made Connections #1164 tricky?
Several answers feel like glamorous Hollywood extras, such as a luxury aircraft and a movie-related phrase, which tempts you to lump them with the premiere items.