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Verified archive for August 8, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1154

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for August 8, 2026

Connections puzzle #1154 for August 8, 2026 divides the board into quaint expressions of excitement, words meaning convey, words abbreviated with letters as homophones, and terms following SAFETY.

Guide editorMaya BrooksSenior Editor

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Take one step at a time

4 groups
Group 1Category hidden
Group 2Category hidden
Group 3Category hidden
Group 4Category hidden

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Get a spoiler-safe solving plan

Use three general checks to make progress without seeing a category or answer.

Open today’s solving plan
  1. Prefer an exact rule.A shared topic is only a lead. Look for four words connected in the same precise way.
  2. Find the least flexible word.Use the word with the narrowest meaning to place words that could belong in several groups.
  3. Test the grammar.If the leftovers look unrelated, try placing one common word before or after each answer.

Reveal guide

Choose only as much help as you need

Every group has its own ladder. Opening one level never exposes another group.

  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

    Get a gentle nudge without seeing the category or its words.

  2. 2
    Ask for a stronger hint

    Use a more specific clue before revealing the category.

  3. 3
    Reveal only what you choose

    Open the category, then the four words only when you are ready.

You remain in control. You can move between levels without revealing the rest of the puzzle.

Practice board guide

Try a group without risking your streak

This scratchpad checks your thinking locally. It never sends a guess to the official puzzle.

  1. 1
    Choose four words

    Tap any four tiles that share one precise connection.

  2. 2
    Check the set

    Once four are selected, press “Check these four.”

  3. 3
    Keep it or adjust

    A correct group is confirmed. If it misses, swap one word or open a hint.

Nothing here affects an official streak. Clear the board at any time and try another four.

Today’s puzzle explained

August 8, 2026 Connections overview

The board mixes ordinary words, a spaced phrase, and multiword expressions. Possible overlap comes from flexible words such as EXPRESS, but every proposed set should be checked against all four official members.

Overall difficultyThe verified sequence moves from yellow through green and blue to purple, with the final group requiring attention to how complete words can represent letter sounds.Biggest trapCUTIE and EASY belong together in the blue group, while EXPRESS belongs to CONVEY and YAHOO belongs to QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT. Those last two words prevent that tempting set from forming an official four-word group.Best first moveStart by testing COUCH, EXPRESS, FRAME, and PHRASE as verbs meaning CONVEY. Confirm that each can describe presenting or communicating an idea before submitting the set.

Why the board is deceptive

The yellow group collects four expressions associated with excitement, while the green group links four verbs through the exact relationship CONVEY.

The blue group depends on letter-name homophones, and the purple group completes four familiar entries using the shared lead word SAFETY.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Resolve the direct CONVEY set first, then isolate the four expressions of excitement. Examine the remaining words for letter sounds before completing the four phrases beginning with SAFETY.

Spoilers below

Today’s groups and answers

Each group stays hidden until you choose to open it. Reveal one at a time, or keep this section closed while you continue solving.

Excited expressionsReveal this group

What connects HOT DOG, HURRAH, WHOOPEE and YAHOO?

HOT DOG · HURRAH · WHOOPEE · YAHOO

QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT. Each entry is included by the verified puzzle under the exact category QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT.

Best anchor: Read every entry as an excited expression rather than another possible sense.

Communicate an ideaReveal this group

What connects COUCH, EXPRESS, FRAME and PHRASE?

COUCH · EXPRESS · FRAME · PHRASE

CONVEY. COUCH, EXPRESS, FRAME, and PHRASE satisfy the official relationship CONVEY when used as verbs for presenting an idea.

Best anchor: Test each candidate in an illustrative construction such as “___ the idea clearly.”

Letter sounds inside wordsReveal this group

What connects CUTIE, EASY, EFFECTS and I OWE YOU?

CUTIE · EASY · EFFECTS · I OWE YOU

WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONES. The official category treats these entries as words abbreviated with letters whose names are homophones of sounds in the entries.

Best anchor: Say each entry aloud and listen for letter names rather than shared definitions.

Shared SAFETY prefixReveal this group

What connects BELT, GOGGLES, PIN and RAZOR?

BELT · GOGGLES · PIN · RAZOR

SAFETY ___. BELT, GOGGLES, PIN, and RAZOR each complete an entry in the puzzle's literal fill-in category SAFETY ___.

Best anchor: Place SAFETY directly before each word and verify all four resulting entries.

Today’s supporting guides

Why the trickiest words belong together

These focused articles go beyond the answer: they explain the exact relationship, the convincing red herrings and how to recognize the pattern again.

Supporting clue guideAugust 8, 2026 Connections: Quaint Expressions of ExcitementExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 8, 2026 Connections: Words Meaning ConveyExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 8, 2026 Connections: Letter Homophone AbbreviationsExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 8, 2026 Connections: Safety ___ PhrasesExplain this connection Supporting clue guideDefinitions for all 16 puzzle wordsExplain this connection

Browse every Connections clue explainer →

How to solve this Connections puzzle

The thinking route, not just the answers

Use today’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT

    Read every entry as an excited expression rather than another possible sense.

  2. 2
    CONVEY

    Test each candidate in an illustrative construction such as “___ the idea clearly.”

  3. 3
    WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONES

    Say each entry aloud and listen for letter names rather than shared definitions.

  4. 4
    SAFETY ___

    Place SAFETY directly before each word and verify all four resulting entries.

Mental model to reuse tomorrow

Exact relationship beats shared topic

Weak rule“These words feel related.”A broad topic can support several tempting but unstable groups.

Strong rule“The same test works for all four.”One precise relationship should explain every answer in the same way.

Today’s best first move: Start by testing COUCH, EXPRESS, FRAME, and PHRASE as verbs meaning CONVEY. Confirm that each can describe presenting or communicating an idea before submitting the set..

Build your solving vocabulary

Four anchors worth spotting

An anchor is the least flexible word in a possible group. It often exposes the intended relationship before the more ambiguous words do.

Yellow, the first level in the verified color order. groupExcited expressions
QUAINT EXPRESSIONS OF EXCITEMENT: Read every entry as an excited expression rather than another possible sense.
Green, the second level in the verified color order. groupCommunicate an idea
CONVEY: Test each candidate in an illustrative construction such as “___ the idea clearly.”
Blue, the third level in the verified color order. groupLetter sounds inside words
WORDS ABBREVIATED WITH LETTERS AS HOMOPHONES: Say each entry aloud and listen for letter names rather than shared definitions.
Purple, the fourth and final level in the verified color order. groupShared SAFETY prefix
SAFETY ___: Place SAFETY directly before each word and verify all four resulting entries.

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

These independent language explainers add definition, origin or usage context where it genuinely helps.

Language guideHurrah Meaning: An Expression of Excitement or Approval

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideYahoo Meaning: An Exclamation of Joy or Excitement

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide Language guideExpress Meaning: To Make a Thought or Feeling Known

Go deeper on this word or phrase without duplicating the puzzle explanation.

Read the language guide

Questions players ask

Connections help without extra spoilers

I’m stuck. Which hint should I open first?

Start with the small hint for the group you feel closest to solving. Use the stronger hint only if the first nudge is not enough, then reveal the category or four words when you want confirmation.

What should I do when five words seem to belong together?

Assume one is a red herring. Look for the word with a strong second meaning, then test whether it forms a cleaner group elsewhere.

What does “Test a group” do?

Select four words and choose “Check these four” to see whether your grouping works. It stays on this page and never submits a guess to the official puzzle or affects a streak.

Do I need to solve the groups in difficulty order?

No. Start with the clearest exact set. Removing an obvious group often exposes the overlapping meanings and wordplay in the harder groups.

Can I check one answer without spoiling the whole puzzle?

Yes. Every group opens independently, so you can reveal one hint, category or set of four words while keeping the other groups hidden.

About the guide editor

Maya Brooks

Maya focuses on exact category logic, ambiguous overlaps and hints that help without giving the group away.

Read Maya’s profile →