Play Connections #1178
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 #1178 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
These are all ways to vouch that you're being completely honest.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Each is thin and lanky, and tends to come in bunches.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
These are famous sleuths from the pages of mystery books.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Each one opens with a syllable that means wanting or aiming for a goal.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Two of the detective surnames double as everyday tools, which tempts you to pair them with the thin objects like the club and the arrow.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- "I PROMISE!"
- LONG, SKINNY THINGS OFTEN SEEN TOGETHER
- PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS OF FICTION
- STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION
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Difficulty: Hard. The last group depends on noticing what the first syllables mean, including inside a name and a place, while a playful spelling and two overlapping categories add confusion.
Connections #1178 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for September 1, 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
CROSS MY HEART is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is "I PROMISE!".
Show all four words
CROSS MY HEART, FOR REAL, ON GOD, PINKY SWEAR
Show one word
ARROW is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is LONG, SKINNY THINGS OFTEN SEEN TOGETHER.
Show all four words
ARROW, GOLF CLUB, PICK-UP STICK, SPAGHETTO
Show one word
HERCULE POIROT is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS OF FICTION.
Show all four words
HERCULE POIROT, MIKE HAMMER, SAM SPADE, SHERLOCK HOLMES
Show one word
AIMEE MANN is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION.
Show all four words
AIMEE MANN, HOPE DIAMOND, PLANETARIUM, WISHY-WASHY
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CROSS MY HEART: Classic gesture and phrase for swearing you mean it.
- FOR REAL: Slang for 'I'm being serious, no joke'.
- ON GOD: Slang oath meaning 'I swear it's true'.
- PINKY SWEAR: Finger-linking vow that is supposed to be unbreakable.
- ARROW: Slender shaft, usually carried in a bunch in a quiver.
- GOLF CLUB: Slim shaft, carried several at a time in a bag.
- PICK-UP STICK: Thin sticks dropped in a pile for the game.
- SPAGHETTO: Single strand of spaghetti, thin and sold in bundles.
- HERCULE POIROT: Agatha Christie's Belgian detective with the famous mustache.
- MIKE HAMMER: Mickey Spillane's tough hard-boiled detective.
- SAM SPADE: Dashiell Hammett's detective from The Maltese Falcon.
- SHERLOCK HOLMES: Conan Doyle's famous sleuth at 221B Baker Street.
Purple group explained
- AIMEE MANN: Starts with AIM, meaning to target a goal.
- HOPE DIAMOND: Starts with HOPE, a wish for something good.
- PLANETARIUM: Starts with PLAN, meaning to intend something.
- WISHY-WASHY: Starts with WISH, a desire for something.
What does SPAGHETTO mean?
The Italian singular form of spaghetti, which is normally a plural noun, so it means a single strand of the pasta. In the puzzle it is one long, skinny thing, like an arrow or a golf club.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 31 | #1177 | ___ BOWL |
| Aug 30 | #1176 | WORDS ON AN OLD WEST WANTED POSTER |
| Aug 29 | #1175 | STARTING WITH FIGURES FROM GREEK MYTH |
| Aug 28 | #1174 | TOP OF THE ___ |
| Aug 27 | #1173 | MUSIC GENRE PLUS STARTING LETTER |
| Aug 26 | #1172 | KEY ___ |
| Aug 25 | #1171 | ENDING IN ICE CREAM ORDERS |
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 Sep 1
Connections #1178 questions
What were the Connections answers on September 1, 2026?
"I PROMISE!": CROSS MY HEART, FOR REAL, ON GOD, PINKY SWEAR. LONG, SKINNY THINGS OFTEN SEEN TOGETHER: ARROW, GOLF CLUB, PICK-UP STICK, SPAGHETTO. PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS OF FICTION: HERCULE POIROT, MIKE HAMMER, SAM SPADE, SHERLOCK HOLMES. STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION: AIMEE MANN, HOPE DIAMOND, PLANETARIUM, WISHY-WASHY.
What was the purple group in Connections #1178?
STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION: AIMEE MANN, HOPE DIAMOND, PLANETARIUM, WISHY-WASHY.
What made Connections #1178 tricky?
Two of the detective surnames double as everyday tools, which tempts you to pair them with the thin objects like the club and the arrow.