Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #1,034 hints and answers for Friday, April 10, 2026

Edited by Wyna Liu · Groups listed easiest to hardest: yellow, green, blue, purple

Connections #1,034 puts four groups of four on the board, running from the yellow group through to purple. For each group below: read the hint first, then show the category name when you want it, then the four words.

Group 1 - Yellow

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

PEPPERS

BELL PEPPER · CAROLINA REAPER · CHIPOTLE · PEPPERONCINO

Group 2 - Green

Hint: Watch the longer entries: at least one of these four is a multi-word phrase, which usually points at the shape of the category.

THINGS THAT POP UP

EJECTOR SEAT · JACK-IN-THE-BOX · POP-UP BOOK · TOASTER

Group 3 - Blue

Hint: These four belong together for one clean reason. If two of them pair up in your head first, let the other two confirm it.

DESCRIPTORS FOR SWISS CHEESE

FIRM · HOLEY · NUTTY · SWISS

Group 4 - Purple

Hint: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

BLUE CHARACTERS

BLUE · GENIE · GONZO · SONIC

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "On the sly"