If you’re on the hunt for the answer to today’s Connections puzzle, specifically for January 27, 2025, you’ve come to the right place! This post will provide various hints, strategies, and ultimately, the answers for all four categories. Along the way, more complex words will be clarified, helping to see how everything intertwines. Warning: Spoilers lie ahead for January 27’s NYT Connections #596! Continue reading for clues and the final solutions to today’s challenge.

For easy access to our daily hints for Connections, consider bookmarking this page. Past hints are also available for reference if you’re curious about previous puzzles.

Initially, some subtle clues regarding today’s Connections answers will be shared. Further down, the explicit themes and solutions will be unveiled. Take your time scrolling and pick only the hints necessary!

Credit: Connections/NYT

Theme Hints for Today’s Connections Puzzle

Here are some spoiler-free insights about today’s groupings in Connections:

• Yellow category – Snack-related terms.

• Green category – Coverings found on animals and vegetation.

• Blue category – A splash or two of this before cooking can be beneficial.

• Purple category – Renowned scenes from a Stephen King book turned into a successful film.

CAUTION: Spoilers Ahead!

Next, some answers will be disclosed. Proceed cautiously if you’re not ready for full spoilers. (The complete solution is coming up soon.)

Navigating Through the Challenging Elements

While TWINS and SCALES might suggest associations with astrology, they do not belong together in today’s context. Here, SCALES refer to the protective layer of fish skin.

The blue category today forms a cohesive phrase when all four words are combined. It might seem unconventional (according to traditional Connections rules) to group them this way, but it’s entirely applicable for today.

It’s also worth noting that BARK and BITE do not belong in the same category.

Identifying Today’s Categories in Connections

• Yellow: SMALL PORTION OF FOOD TO TASTE

• Green: NATURAL PROTECTIVE COVERS

• Blue: “EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL”

• Purple: ELEMENTS FROM “THE SHINING”

DOUBLE WARNING: SOLUTIONS BELOW

Are you ready to uncover the solutions to today’s Connections puzzle? The answers are listed below.

What are the Yellow Terms in Today’s Connections?

The yellow category is often seen as the least challenging. Today’s theme in this group is SMALL PORTION OF FOOD TO TASTE, including: BITE, MOUTHFUL, SAMPLE, TASTE.

What are the Green Terms in Today’s Connections?

The green category is generally regarded as the second easiest. Its theme is NATURAL PROTECTIVE COVERS with the terms: BARK, SCALES, SHELL, SKIN.

What are the Blue Terms in Today’s Connections?

The blue category is often considered the second most difficult. Today’s theme is “EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL,” containing the words: EXTRA, OIL, OLIVE, VIRGIN.

What are the Purple Terms in Today’s Connections?

The purple category is usually tied to the most challenging. The theme for this grouping is ELEMENTS FROM “THE SHINING,” represented by: AXE, HEDGE MAZE, TWINS, TYPEWRITER.

Deciphering Today’s Connections

Upon contemplating the terms, VIRGIN and SHELL initially brought to mind Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, but that seemed like a bit of a stretch. The connection between SCALES and TWINS suggested zodiac signs (Libra and Gemini) but appeared limited.

Considering TASTE, BITE, SAMPLE, and MOUTHFUL, all point towards culinary experiences. However, MOUTHFUL seems counterintuitive to a “small portion.”

Initially hesitant about grouping EXTRA, VIRGIN, OLIVE, and OIL, I soon realized they fit together. On further exploration, I identified BARK, SHELL, SKIN, and SCALES as common elements that provide protective layers in nature.

Finally, it emerged that TYPEWRITER, HEDGE MAZE, AXE, and TWINS are indeed references from The Shining.

Connections
Puzzle #596

Playing Connections: A Quick Guide

A comprehensive guide to the game is available, but here’s a brief overview of the mechanics:

Locate the Connections game either on the New York Times website or via their Games application (previously known as the Crossword app). A game board with 16 tiles, each showing a word or phrase, will be presented. Your mission is to combine four tiles that share a common thread. Frequently, these categories encompass similar items (for example: RAIN, SLEET, HAIL, and SNOW are all forms of precipitation), while at times, clever wordplay is involved (for instance, terms like BUCKET, GUEST, TOP TEN, and WISH can represent different types of lists: bucket list, guest list, etc.).

Once you select four items, hit the Submit button. If your selection is correct, the category and corresponding color will appear. (Yellow indicates the easiest group, then green, followed by blue, and lastly purple.) Should your guess be incorrect, a chance to try again will be afforded.

The goal is to pinpoint all four groups accurately. However, if you make four incorrect guesses before successfully identifying all groups, the game concludes and the answers are disclosed.

Strategies for Winning in Connections

A crucial aspect to keep in mind when playing Connections is that the groupings can be quite deceptive. Overlapping clusters are common. For instance, one particular puzzle included multiple breakfast items: BACON, EGG, PANCAKE, OMELET, WAFFLE, and CEREAL. Surprisingly, BACON was affiliated with a group of painters, including CLOSE, MUNCH, and WHISTLER. Meanwhile, EGG was part of a category revolving around items typically found in dozens (like JUROR, ROSE, and MONTH). Make sure to confirm your selected four items only contain those specific words before submitting.

If facing difficulty, another tactic is to examine words that seem unrelated to others. If WHISTLER is reminiscent of the painting known as “Whistler’s Mother,” then there may be a connection there. In a previous challenge, the reference to WHISTLER led to a search for a painter named Close, as it didn’t fit the obvious themes.

Another effective approach when stuck is to consult helpful hints, which is why these tips are provided daily. Be sure to return tomorrow for the next exciting puzzle!