Play Connections #1183
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 #1183 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
Having the go-ahead to act however you please, with no strings attached.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Gadgets and media connect to a machine through these openings.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Each one repeats itself if you spell out the short form at the start.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
The last part of each is something you could do to a surface with a blade.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several tech-related items could pass for the same group, but a few of them actually belong with the shortened terms that say the same thing twice.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- UNRESTRICTED PERMISSION
- PLACES TO INSERT SOMETHING INTO ON A COMPUTER
- ABBREVIATIONS FOLLOWED BY REDUNDANT WORD
- ENDING WITH WAYS TO CARVE A SURFACE
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Difficulty: Medium. The two phrase-meaning groups are straightforward, but the last group hides its link in the final words, and tech terms blur the lines between groups.
Connections #1183 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for September 6, 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
BLANK CHECK is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is UNRESTRICTED PERMISSION.
Show all four words
BLANK CHECK, CARTE BLANCHE, FREE REIN, FULL AUTHORITY
Show one word
CARD SLOT is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PLACES TO INSERT SOMETHING INTO ON A COMPUTER.
Show all four words
CARD SLOT, HEADPHONE JACK, OPTICAL DRIVE, USB PORT
Show one word
ATM MACHINE is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ABBREVIATIONS FOLLOWED BY REDUNDANT WORD.
Show all four words
ATM MACHINE, LCD DISPLAY, PIN NUMBER, UPC CODE
Show one word
COURT SCRIBE is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ENDING WITH WAYS TO CARVE A SURFACE.
Show all four words
COURT SCRIBE, DIRECTOR'S CUT, PIZZA SLICE, SAT SCORE
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- BLANK CHECK: Signed paper you can fill in however you like
- CARTE BLANCHE: French for white card, meaning total discretion
- FREE REIN: Loosened reins let a horse go where it wants
- FULL AUTHORITY: Complete power to decide and act
- CARD SLOT: Opening for a memory card or similar
- HEADPHONE JACK: Round socket where audio plugs in
- OPTICAL DRIVE: Tray that takes a disc
- USB PORT: Rectangular socket for flash drives and cables
- ATM MACHINE: ATM already stands for automated teller machine
- LCD DISPLAY: LCD already stands for liquid crystal display
- PIN NUMBER: PIN already stands for personal identification number
- UPC CODE: UPC already stands for universal product code
Purple group explained
- COURT SCRIBE: Scribe means to scratch a line into a surface
- DIRECTOR'S CUT: Cut means to slice into something
- PIZZA SLICE: Slice means to cut through in thin pieces
- SAT SCORE: Score means to scratch a groove into a surface
What does CARTE BLANCHE mean?
A French phrase, literally 'white card,' meaning complete freedom to act or decide however one wishes, without restrictions or needing approval. It fits the group about unrestricted permission.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | #1182 | DESSERTS MINUS LAST LETTER |
| Sep 4 | #1181 | ACCESSORIES INSIDE STARTING AND ENDING LETTERS |
| Sep 3 | #1180 | SPREADSHEET FUNCTIONS |
| Sep 2 | #1179 | ___ DOGS (THAT AREN'T DOGS) |
| Sep 1 | #1178 | STARTING WITH WORDS OF INTENTION |
| Aug 31 | #1177 | ___ BOWL |
| Aug 30 | #1176 | WORDS ON AN OLD WEST WANTED POSTER |
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 6
Connections #1183 questions
What were the Connections answers on September 6, 2026?
UNRESTRICTED PERMISSION: BLANK CHECK, CARTE BLANCHE, FREE REIN, FULL AUTHORITY. PLACES TO INSERT SOMETHING INTO ON A COMPUTER: CARD SLOT, HEADPHONE JACK, OPTICAL DRIVE, USB PORT. ABBREVIATIONS FOLLOWED BY REDUNDANT WORD: ATM MACHINE, LCD DISPLAY, PIN NUMBER, UPC CODE. ENDING WITH WAYS TO CARVE A SURFACE: COURT SCRIBE, DIRECTOR'S CUT, PIZZA SLICE, SAT SCORE.
What was the purple group in Connections #1183?
ENDING WITH WAYS TO CARVE A SURFACE: COURT SCRIBE, DIRECTOR'S CUT, PIZZA SLICE, SAT SCORE.
What made Connections #1183 tricky?
Several tech-related items could pass for the same group, but a few of them actually belong with the shortened terms that say the same thing twice.