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Verified archive for August 26, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1172

NYT Connections #1172 Hints & Answers (August 26, 2026)

The August 26, 2026 Connections board brings together exclamatory expressions, words for ability, possible meanings of P, and words that can follow KEY.

Guide editorMaya BrooksSenior Editor

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

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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.

August 26, 2026 puzzle explained

August 26, 2026 Connections Overview

The explanations preserve the official category titles literally. Difficulty language follows the verified yellow, green, blue and purple order and does not infer editorial intent.

Overall difficultyThe verified color order runs from yellow to green to blue to purple; the group descriptions follow that order without adding claims about familiarity.Biggest trapSeveral entries can suggest familiar phrases or meanings, so test a complete four-word category against the official labels before committing.Best first moveStart with the four exclamatory or demonstrative expressions, then use the ability group to reduce the board before testing the letter P and KEY ___ patterns.

Why the board is deceptive

The yellow group is the exact quoted-expression category, while the green group collects words connected with a person's ability.

The blue and purple groups rely on completing shared word patterns: possible meanings of P and words that follow KEY.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

One workable route is to place BEHOLD, PRESTO, SHAZAM and VOILÀ under the official category "THERE YOU HAVE IT!". FORTE, GIFT, STRENGTH and TALENT then form KNACK. PAGE, PARK, PHOSPHORUS and PIANO complete WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR, leaving CHAIN, LARGO, LIME and SIGNATURE for KEY ___.

Spoilers below

August 26, 2026 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.

"THERE YOU HAVE IT!"Reveal this group

What connects BEHOLD, PRESTO, SHAZAM and VOILÀ?

BEHOLD · PRESTO · SHAZAM · VOILÀ

"THERE YOU HAVE IT!". These four words are the exact entries in the official category titled "THERE YOU HAVE IT!". The category relationship is preserved as a quoted expression grouping.

Best anchor: A group of presentation-style expressions

KNACKReveal this group

What connects FORTE, GIFT, STRENGTH and TALENT?

FORTE · GIFT · STRENGTH · TALENT

KNACK. FORTE, GIFT, STRENGTH and TALENT are the four official words under KNACK. The label is retained literally rather than narrowed to one specific kind of ability.

Best anchor: Words connected with ability

WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FORReveal this group

What connects PAGE, PARK, PHOSPHORUS and PIANO?

PAGE · PARK · PHOSPHORUS · PIANO

WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR. PAGE, PARK, PHOSPHORUS and PIANO are the exact four entries in WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR. The group is about possible referents of the letter P.

Best anchor: Possible meanings of the letter P

KEY ___Reveal this group

What connects CHAIN, LARGO, LIME and SIGNATURE?

CHAIN · LARGO · LIME · SIGNATURE

KEY ___. CHAIN, LARGO, LIME and SIGNATURE are the four words in the official KEY ___ category. The relationship is completion of the supplied word pattern.

Best anchor: Words completing KEY ___

August 26, 2026 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 26, 2026 Connections: "THERE YOU HAVE IT!" GuideExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 26, 2026 Connections: KNACK Group GuideExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 26, 2026 Connections: What "P" Might Stand ForExplain this connection Supporting clue guideAugust 26, 2026 Connections: KEY ___ Group GuideExplain 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 this puzzle’s anchor words as a repeatable method: secure an exact group, remove it, and let the remaining board become more specific.

  1. 1
    "THERE YOU HAVE IT!"

    A group of presentation-style expressions

  2. 2
    KNACK

    Words connected with ability

  3. 3
    WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR

    Possible meanings of the letter P

  4. 4
    KEY ___

    Words completing KEY ___

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.

This puzzle’s best first move: Start with the four exclamatory or demonstrative expressions, then use the ability group to reduce the board before testing the letter P and KEY ___ patterns..

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 group"THERE YOU HAVE IT!"
"THERE YOU HAVE IT!": A group of presentation-style expressions
Green groupKNACK
KNACK: Words connected with ability
Blue groupWHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR
WHAT "P" MIGHT STAND FOR: Possible meanings of the letter P
Purple groupKEY ___
KEY ___: Words completing KEY ___

Language background

Useful guides for this puzzle’s wordplay

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

Language guideBehold Meaning

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

Read the language guide Language guideVoilà Meaning

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

Read the language guide Language guideForte Meaning

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

Read the language guide

Questions players ask

Questions about this puzzle

What makes Connections #1172 tricky?

Several entries can suggest familiar phrases or meanings, so test a complete four-word category against the official labels before committing.

Where should I start with the August 26, 2026 puzzle?

Start with the four exclamatory or demonstrative expressions, then use the ability group to reduce the board before testing the letter P and KEY ___ patterns.

About the guide editor

Maya Brooks

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

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