Fri, Nov 13

Connections Answers for October 21, 2026 #1228

Wed, Oct 21, 2026‹ Previous Next ›

HEAVYWEIGHT

BIG CHEESE

LEAPFROG

MUSICAL CHAIRS

THE SCREAM

DUCK DUCK GOOSE

SUNFLOWERS

GRAPE-NUTS

SWEETBREAD

TOP BANANA

CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN

ENGLISH HORN

HOT POTATO

MANTIS SHRIMP

ALPHA DOG

AMERICAN GOTHIC

YYellow groupEasiest

Yellow group · easiest

Timeless playground pastimes where kids physically move—circling, tossing, or vaulting—often to lively music or chants.
CLASSIC CHILDREN'S GAMES
DUCK DUCK GOOSEHOT POTATOLEAPFROGMUSICAL CHAIRSDUCK DUCK GOOSE is played by tapping heads in a circle, HOT POTATO involves tossing an object around quickly, LEAPFROG has players vaulting over crouched friends, and MUSICAL CHAIRS removes seats as music stops.

GGreen groupFairly easy

Green group · fairly easy

Terms for someone in charge, each borrowed playfully from animal packs, dairy, boxing, and circus lineups.
IMPORTANT PERSON
ALPHA DOGBIG CHEESEHEAVYWEIGHTTOP BANANAALPHA DOG names the pack leader, BIG CHEESE calls the boss the "cheese," HEAVYWEIGHT borrows the boxing division for a powerful figure, and TOP BANANA originally named the lead comedian, now any chief.

BBlue groupTricky

Blue group · tricky

These celebrated artworks belong together on gallery walls rather than in kitchen pantries or gardens.
FAMOUS PAINTINGS
AMERICAN GOTHICCAMPBELL'S SOUP CANSUNFLOWERSTHE SCREAMAMERICAN GOTHIC is Grant Wood's farm couple with the pitchfork, CAMPBELL'S SOUP CAN is one of Warhol's pop art canvases, SUNFLOWERS is Van Gogh's still-life series, and THE SCREAM is Munch's howling figure on the bridge.

PPurple groupTrickiest — wordplay

Purple group · trickiest — wordplay

These four items each have a two-part name where both parts are misleading about what they really are.
DOUBLE MISNOMERS (NEITHER WORD IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION)
ENGLISH HORNGRAPE-NUTSMANTIS SHRIMPSWEETBREADan ENGLISH HORN is neither English nor a horn but a woodwind oboe relative, GRAPE-NUTS contain neither grapes nor nuts, a MANTIS SHRIMP is neither a mantis nor a true shrimp, and SWEETBREADS are neither sweet nor bread but organ meat.

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About the Connections for October 21, 2026

Connections is a daily category puzzle from The New York Times. This page keeps the hints and answers for this one puzzle. Today's puzzle is always on the main Connections hints and answers page.

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