Play Connections #1201
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 #1201 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
Gather these pieces to dress up as a creature of the night on Halloween.
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Green group hintGentle hint
Each one contains a coiled piece of metal that makes it bounce, jump or wobble.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Each one involves a gesture that directs everyone's attention at something or someone.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
These four are all made from the very same set of letters, just shuffled.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Snakes and fangs suggest a reptile theme, and several items look like sports-fan gear, so it's tempting to build groups around those.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- PARTS OF A VAMPIRE COSTUME
- THINGS WITH SPRING/S
- FEATURING POINTING
- ANAGRAMS
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Difficulty: Medium. The Halloween group is easy to spot, but the shuffled-letter set and the group of gestures take some clever thinking to untangle.
Connections #1201 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for September 24, 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
CAPE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PARTS OF A VAMPIRE COSTUME.
Show all four words
CAPE, FACE PAINT, FAKE BLOOD, FANGS
Show one word
BOBBLEHEAD is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is THINGS WITH SPRING/S.
Show all four words
BOBBLEHEAD, POGO STICK, SNAKES IN A CAN, TRAMPOLINE
Show one word
CREATION OF ADAM is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is FEATURING POINTING.
Show all four words
CREATION OF ADAM, FOAM FINGER, I'M WITH STUPID SHIRT, UNCLE SAM
Show one word
BEER HAT is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ANAGRAMS.
Show all four words
BEER HAT, BREATHE, HERB TEA, THE BEAR
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- CAPE: Flowing garment draped over the shoulders for a classic look.
- FACE PAINT: Used to give a pale, ghostly complexion.
- FAKE BLOOD: Dripping from the mouth sells the bite.
- FANGS: Pointy teeth are the signature accessory.
- BOBBLEHEAD: A spring in the neck makes it nod.
- POGO STICK: A big spring lets you hop along.
- SNAKES IN A CAN: Coiled spring snakes jump out when opened.
- TRAMPOLINE: Springs under the mat launch jumpers upward.
- CREATION OF ADAM: Famous painting where two hands reach with extended fingers.
- FOAM FINGER: Fans wear it with one finger up high.
- I'M WITH STUPID SHIRT: An arrow or finger points to the person beside you.
- UNCLE SAM: Recruitment poster shows him pointing at you.
Purple group explained
- BEER HAT: Letters rearrange into the other three entries.
- BREATHE: Same letters as the other three entries.
- HERB TEA: Same letters, split into two words.
- THE BEAR: Same letters, reordered as a short phrase.
What does BEER HAT mean?
A novelty hat that holds cans of beer, usually two, with straws running down to the wearer's mouth for hands-free drinking. It's popular at sporting events and parties. Here it's an anagram of BREATHE, HERB TEA and THE BEAR.
What does SNAKES IN A CAN mean?
A prank novelty item: a tin that looks like a snack, such as nuts, but releases spring-loaded fake snakes when opened to startle people. It fits the group of things with springs.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 23 | #1200 | ENDING IN SYNONYMS FOR "TERM" |
| Sep 22 | #1199 | BEVERAGES WITH ACUTE ACCENTS REMOVED |
| Sep 21 | #1198 | STARTS OF COMPOSERS' NAMES |
| Sep 20 | #1197 | ___BOARDS YOU RIDE ON |
| Sep 19 | #1196 | STARTING WITH ABBREVIATED MATH FUNCTIONS |
| Sep 18 | #1195 | ___CASE |
| Sep 17 | #1194 | LOVE ___ |
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 24
Connections #1201 questions
What were the Connections answers on September 24, 2026?
PARTS OF A VAMPIRE COSTUME: CAPE, FACE PAINT, FAKE BLOOD, FANGS. THINGS WITH SPRING/S: BOBBLEHEAD, POGO STICK, SNAKES IN A CAN, TRAMPOLINE. FEATURING POINTING: CREATION OF ADAM, FOAM FINGER, I'M WITH STUPID SHIRT, UNCLE SAM. ANAGRAMS: BEER HAT, BREATHE, HERB TEA, THE BEAR.
What was the purple group in Connections #1201?
ANAGRAMS: BEER HAT, BREATHE, HERB TEA, THE BEAR.
What made Connections #1201 tricky?
Snakes and fangs suggest a reptile theme, and several items look like sports-fan gear, so it's tempting to build groups around those.