Play Connections #1234
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 #1234 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
Think of keeping your hands busy with something you probably shouldn't be touching.
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Green group hintGentle hint
These are tiny pieces of anatomy that help you hear.
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Blue group hintHelpful hint
Each one can come before a word for something that rings, from the deep sea to Philadelphia to a fast food chain.
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Purple group hintHelpful hint
Each one can follow a ringing object, and one of them is a type of flared pants.
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Where's the trap?Strong hint
One of the fiddling words is also the first name of a famous fairy, which tempts you to drop it in with the ringing groups.
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The four group namesStrong hint
- MESS (WITH)
- PARTS OF THE EAR
- ___ BELL
- BELL ___
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Difficulty: Medium. The two ringing-themed groups run in opposite directions, so sorting them takes some care, though the anatomy group is easy to spot.
Connections #1234 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are all four groups for October 27, 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
FIDDLE is in the yellow group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is MESS (WITH).
Show all four words
FIDDLE, MEDDLE, TINKER, TRIFLE
Show one word
ANVIL is in the green group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is PARTS OF THE EAR.
Show all four words
ANVIL, CANAL, DRUM, STIRRUP
Show one word
DIVING is in the blue group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is ___ BELL.
Show all four words
DIVING, JINGLE, LIBERTY, TACO
Show one word
BOTTOMS is in the purple group. Look for three more words that share something with it.
Show the group name
The group is BELL ___.
Show all four words
BOTTOMS, JAR, PEPPER, TOWER
All four groups at once
Show all four groups
- FIDDLE: To fidget or play around with something idly.
- MEDDLE: To interfere in things that aren't your business.
- TINKER: To fuss with something, trying to fix or improve it.
- TRIFLE: To treat something without serious attention, as in trifle with.
- ANVIL: Common name for the incus, a small middle ear bone.
- CANAL: The passage that carries sound toward the eardrum.
- DRUM: The eardrum is the membrane that vibrates with sound.
- STIRRUP: The stapes, a tiny bone shaped like a riding footrest.
- DIVING: A diving bell is a chamber lowered underwater.
- JINGLE: Jingle Bell is the holiday song and a sleigh sound.
- LIBERTY: The Liberty Bell is the cracked icon in Philadelphia.
- TACO: Taco Bell is the fast food chain.
Purple group explained
- BOTTOMS: Bell bottoms are pants that flare at the ankle.
- JAR: A bell jar is a glass cover used in labs.
- PEPPER: A bell pepper is a sweet, hollow vegetable.
- TOWER: A bell tower is a structure that holds big bells.
What does STIRRUP mean?
A tiny bone deep in the middle ear, shaped like a riding stirrup. It is the smallest bone in the human body and passes sound vibrations from the anvil to the inner ear.
What does ANVIL mean?
A small middle ear bone, also called the incus, named for its resemblance to a blacksmith's anvil. It sits between the hammer and the stirrup and carries sound vibrations along.
Recent Connections puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Purple group |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | #1233 | HORROR MOVIES WITH LAST LETTER CHANGED |
| Oct 25 | #1232 | THINGS THAT CAN BE SNAPPED |
| Oct 24 | #1231 | ___ BAR |
| Oct 23 | #1230 | ___ TAP |
| Oct 22 | #1229 | STARTS OF BEDDING |
| Oct 21 | #1228 | DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION) |
| Oct 20 | #1227 | HOMOPHONES OF DISNEY CHARACTERS |
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 27
Connections #1234 questions
What were the Connections answers on October 27, 2026?
MESS (WITH): FIDDLE, MEDDLE, TINKER, TRIFLE. PARTS OF THE EAR: ANVIL, CANAL, DRUM, STIRRUP. ___ BELL: DIVING, JINGLE, LIBERTY, TACO. BELL ___: BOTTOMS, JAR, PEPPER, TOWER.
What was the purple group in Connections #1234?
BELL ___: BOTTOMS, JAR, PEPPER, TOWER.
What made Connections #1234 tricky?
One of the fiddling words is also the first name of a famous fairy, which tempts you to drop it in with the ringing groups.