Play Connections #1208
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 #1208 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
Each of these can mean to set something down somewhere on purpose.
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Green group hintGentle hint
These are the numbers a tailor jots down to get a button-up garment fitting right.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
These are groups that were making noise on college radio and music blogs in the early aughts.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Each is just the opening chunk of a name for a daily brain teaser in the newspaper.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
Several words double as body parts, and one of them actually belongs to the music group, which tempts you to lump it in with the clothing-fit words.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- PUT
- DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS
- 2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH "THE"
- STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES
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Difficulty: Hard. The music group needs some knowledge of 2000s rock, and the fragment group is tricky because none of its entries are real words on their own.
Connections #1208 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for October 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
PLACE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PUT.
Show all four words
PLACE, POSITION, SITUATE, STICK
Show one word
CHEST is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS.
Show all four words
CHEST, NECK, SLEEVE, WAIST
Show one word
DECEMBERISTS is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is 2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH "THE".
Show all four words
DECEMBERISTS, NATIONAL, SHINS, WALKMEN
Show one word
ACRO is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES.
Show all four words
ACRO, CROSS, KEN, SUD
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- PLACE: To set something in a particular spot.
- POSITION: To arrange something in a specific spot.
- SITUATE: To locate something in a certain spot.
- STICK: Informal way to set something down, as in 'stick it there'.
- CHEST: Measured around the fullest part of the torso.
- NECK: Collar size is based on this measurement.
- SLEEVE: Arm length from shoulder or center back to the wrist.
- WAIST: Measures the midsection for a tapered fit.
- DECEMBERISTS: Portland folk-rock group known for 'The Crane Wife'.
- NATIONAL: Brooklyn-by-way-of-Cincinnati band behind 'Boxer'.
- SHINS: Albuquerque group famous for 'Oh, Inverted World'.
- WALKMEN: New York band known for the song 'The Rat'.
Purple group explained
- ACRO: Begins ACROSTIC.
- CROSS: Begins CROSSWORD.
- KEN: Begins KENKEN, the number-grid puzzle.
- SUD: Begins SUDOKU.
What does DECEMBERISTS mean?
An indie folk-rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2000, known for literate, story-driven songs and elaborate arrangements. The name also refers to Russian revolutionaries of 1825. Here it fits as 'The Decemberists'.
What does WALKMEN mean?
A New York indie rock band active in the 2000s, best known for the song 'The Rat'. Here it fits as 'The Walkmen', not to be confused with the plural of the Sony personal stereo.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 | #1207 | STARTING WITH MONTH ABBREVIATIONS |
| Sep 29 | #1206 | PHRASES HIDING GREEK LETTERS |
| Sep 28 | #1205 | THREE LETTERS PLUS REPEATED TRIGRAMS |
| Sep 27 | #1204 | ENDING IN CHINESE DYNASTIES |
| Sep 26 | #1203 | "COOL" THINGS, IN EXPRESSIONS |
| Sep 25 | #1202 | TAXONOMIC RANKS PLUS A LETTER |
| Sep 24 | #1201 | ANAGRAMS |
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 Oct 1
Connections #1208 questions
What were the Connections answers on October 1, 2026?
PUT: PLACE, POSITION, SITUATE, STICK. DRESS SHIRT MEASUREMENTS: CHEST, NECK, SLEEVE, WAIST. 2000S INDIE ROCK BANDS, WITH "THE": DECEMBERISTS, NATIONAL, SHINS, WALKMEN. STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES: ACRO, CROSS, KEN, SUD.
What was the purple group in Connections #1208?
STARTS OF NYT PRINT PUZZLES: ACRO, CROSS, KEN, SUD.
What made Connections #1208 tricky?
Several words double as body parts, and one of them actually belongs to the music group, which tempts you to lump it in with the clothing-fit words.