The New York Times Connections puzzle asks you to sort 16 words into four groups of four, with each group linked by a hidden theme. Today’s grid mixes snack-sized starters, noisy job‑site gear, sunny vacation vibes, and some very tricky “not‑actually‑food” phrases that lean on pop culture and internet slang.
NYT Connections Puzzle Overview: 01 March 2026
Today’s puzzle blends straightforward categories like construction gear with more playful sets built around emoji and punny “foods” you’d never actually eat. The easiest group comes from the world of appetizers, while the hardest relies on recognizing that certain internet and pop‑culture phrases only sound like dishes on a menu.
Two middle‑difficulty groups focus on tangible objects: you’ll see items you’d bring on holiday and gear you’d expect around a building site. Many solvers will likely lock in the snacks and tools early, then spend longer untangling which “edible‑sounding” entries truly belong together.
NYT Connections Hints: 01 March 2026
Want a nudge without spoiling everything? Below are tiered hints for each category, from the easiest (yellow) to the trickiest (purple).
Category 1
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Think about small portions you might serve before the main course at a party or dinner.
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These are usually bite‑sized, easy to eat while standing and chatting.
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You’ll often see them arranged on trays or ordered from an appetizer or tapas menu.
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Several of the words here come from non‑English culinary traditions, but all point to the same type of nibble.
Category 2
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Picture what you’d find scattered around an active construction site or renovation project.
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Some items are safety gear for people, while others are tools that help you reach or attach things.
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If you’re climbing, fastening boards, or keeping debris off your head, this set has you covered.
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Altogether, these words describe equipment that helps workers build, repair, or stay safe.
Category 3
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These are all things you might text as emojis when talking about a beach trip or holiday.
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Think of how you’d visually represent flying away, packing up, or soaking in the sun.
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One is a mode of transportation, one is what you carry, one is scenery, and one is a cool expression.
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Imagine a message like “See you next week, I’m off!” and the little icons you’d add.
Category 4
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Each of these entries ends with a word for a kind of food, but the whole phrase isn’t really something you’d eat.
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One comes from internet culture, one from a movie title, and another from an idiomatic “threat.”
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They all play on familiar dishes like pasta, burgers, sandwiches, and pizza, but twist the meaning into something else entirely.
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If a word sounds like a menu item yet would be deeply confusing (or painful!) to order, it probably belongs here.
NYT Connections Answers: 01 March 2026
Ready to see how everything fits together? Here are today’s Connections groups, listed from easiest (yellow) to hardest (purple).
Category 1 – LITTLE BITE (Yellow)
Category 2 – CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (Green)
Category 3 – VACATION EMOJI (Blue)
Category 4 – THINGS YOU DON’T EAT THAT END IN FOODS (Purple)
Strategy Tip for Today
Today’s grid rewards spotting the straightforward real‑world categories first—snacks and construction gear—before tackling the more playful emoji and “fake food” phrases. Once you’ve grouped obvious physical objects, reread the leftovers aloud and watch for shared endings or contexts (like internet memes or film titles) to crack that final purple set.
