Connections · Hints and answers

Connections #1,049 hints and answers for Saturday, April 25, 2026

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

Connections #1,049 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: Four words, one thread. Say each of the four out loud - the link is usually plainer than it looks.

BODY COVERINGS

ENAMEL · HAIR · NAIL · SKIN

Group 2 - Green

Hint: One thread ties these four together. It is a fair link, not a trick - think about what the words can all be or do.

MASSES, IN IDIOMS

CROWD · HAYSTACK · MILLION · OCEAN

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.

OLD TIMEY SLANG FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

COPPER · DICK · FLATFOOT · GUMSHOE

Group 4 - Purple

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.

STARTING WITH SYNONYMS FOR "THROW"

CAST IRON · CHUCK E. CHEESE · HURLY-BURLY · PITCHFORK

Next on the board

Strands →

Theme clue: "On the shopping block"