Hello everyone! it’s time for another Connections puzzle! Today’s puzzle for Friday, November 15, 2024, was a bit of a head-scratcher, but I think I’ve cracked it. I’ll walk you through each category with hints, my thought process, and the final answers to give you the full experience. Let’s dive into today’s set of words and uncover the connections between them!
Words in Today’s Puzzle:
- Pipe
- Phrase
- Jug
- Passage
- Leak
- Letter
- Waist
- Whistle
- Nick
- Crack
- Recorder
- Word
- Hole
- Sands
- Sentence
- Puncture
Hints for Each Category
Let’s take a closer look at the hints for each category. If you’re trying to solve it on your own, see if these clues point get you in the right direction!
Category 1: Defects or Breaks
Think about words that indicate damage or breaks in physical objects. Words like “leak” and “crack” could fit well, along with others that suggest something’s not quite right with an object.
Category 2: Units of Grammar
Consider language terms you might use when writing or reading. We’re looking for units of language or grammar—basic building blocks like “sentence,” “word,” or “letter” should fit here.
Category 3: Musical Instruments
For this category, think of instruments you might play, particularly ones you blow into. I immediately thought of “whistle” and “recorder,” but let’s see if we can find more to fill out the group.
Category 4: Expressions of Time
Look for terms that refer to the passage of time or are commonly associated with time. “Sands,” like in an hourglass, and “passage,” as in “passage of time,” may help us piece together this final category.
Step-by-Step Answer Process
This puzzle had me thinking about a few different possibilities before finding the right fits for each category. Here’s how it went down:
Attempt 1: Possible Tire or Pipe Defects
I began by looking for a category that might relate to breaks or damage. Words like “leak,” “hole,” and “puncture” pointed toward physical defects, perhaps related to pipes or tires. I tried to be very specific here, but it turns out I was thinking too narrowly. The category was simply Defects or Breaks, which allowed for a bit more flexibility. “Crack” fit nicely, rounding out this group.
Attempt 2: Grammar or Writing Terms
With that first group locked in, I turned my attention to the language-based words. “Sentence,” “word,” “letter,” and “phrase” all came to mind as potential fits under a grammar category. These language units are fundamental elements of writing and fell into place easily as Grammar Constructs or Units of Grammar.
Attempt 3: Musical Instruments
The next category took a bit more thought. I noticed “whistle” and “recorder” as potential musical instruments, and “pipe” also seemed like it could belong in this group. The tricky word was “jug.” At first, I hesitated because “jug” didn’t immediately strike me as an instrument. Then, I remembered that in jug band music, a jug can be used as a wind instrument. This confirmed the group as Wind Instruments or Musical Instruments.
Attempt 4: Expressions of Time
With only four words left, the final category focused on expressions of time. “Sands” reminded me of an hourglass, and “passage” often refers to the passage of time. “Waste” was a bit of an outlier at first, but then I considered phrases like “waste of time.” The last word, “Nick,” fit as well, giving us Expressions of Time or References to Time as the final group.
Revealed Answer Groups
Here’s the final list of categories and how today’s words fit into each:
- Defects or Breaks: Leak, Hole, Crack, Puncture
- Units of Grammar: Sentence, Word, Letter, Phrase
- Musical Instruments: Recorder, Whistle, Pipe, Jug
- Expressions of Time: Sands, Passage, Waste, Nick
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| Credit: New York Times |
I’d give myself a solid 3.5 out of 4 today. The defects category took me a while because I was initially too specific, thinking of physical objects like tires and pipes. And while I knew jug bands used jugs as instruments, I wasn’t sure if the puzzle would count “jug” as a wind instrument. But ultimately, I got each category right, even if a couple of guesses were shaky!
One thing that threw me was my initial instinct to categorize some of the words by astrological symbols or signs. Words like “crack” and “leak” misled me for a moment, and the time expressions took a bit of creative thinking. I’m curious to hear if any of you went down similar rabbit holes or found more straightforward solutions.
So, how did today’s puzzle go for you? Did you find the answers quickly, or did certain categories give you trouble? Let me know in the comments which words tripped you up and how you rated my deduction skills for today’s puzzle.
Thanks for joining me for another Connections session, and as always, I’ll be back tomorrow with more brain-teasing fun. Until then, keep connecting!
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