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Verified archive for September 19, 2026 Spoiler-safePuzzle #1196

NYT Connections Hints and Answers for September 19, 2026

Connections puzzle #1196 for September 19, 2026 divides the board among a scope-widening idea, subjects in a kid's drawing, 1960s London associations and abbreviated math functions at the starts of phrases.

Guide editorJordan EllisEditor

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

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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

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  1. 1
    Start with a small hint

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  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

How the September 19 board fits together

Potential overlap is largely visual or lexical: BRANCH OUT can sit near TREE on a first scan, while LOG CABIN and HOUSE can appear compatible. Validate any proposal against one literal relationship covering all four entries.

Overall difficultyThe board mixes broad verbs, drawing subjects, 1960s London associations and phrase-opening wordplay, so checking the relationship across all four entries is important.Biggest trapBRANCH OUT and GROW may draw attention toward TREE and SUN. However, BRANCH OUT and GROW share WIDEN ONE'S SCOPE, while TREE and SUN share FEATURES OF A KID'S DRAWING, so those four do not complete one official group.Best first moveTest BRANCH OUT, DIVERSIFY, EXPAND and GROW together. Each preserves the broad relationship WIDEN ONE'S SCOPE without requiring a narrower shared setting.

Why the board is deceptive

One route begins with the four direct ways to WIDEN ONE'S SCOPE, then separates the concrete-looking drawing subjects from the remaining proper names and phrases.

The phrase group depends on reading only each beginning: COS, LOG, SIN and TAN are the abbreviated math functions specified by the official category.

Open the clean solving route

One way through the board

Start with BRANCH OUT, DIVERSIFY, EXPAND and GROW. Next collect HOUSE, STICK FIGURE, SUN and TREE as FEATURES OF A KID'S DRAWING. The London-associated set then leaves four phrases whose openings satisfy the abbreviated-function rule.

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.

Broaden the rangeReveal this group

What connects BRANCH OUT, DIVERSIFY, EXPAND and GROW?

BRANCH OUT · DIVERSIFY · EXPAND · GROW

WIDEN ONE'S SCOPE. Each entry can express widening one's scope: BRANCH OUT, DIVERSIFY, EXPAND and GROW.

Best anchor: Ways to widen one's scope

Child-drawing featuresReveal this group

What connects HOUSE, STICK FIGURE, SUN and TREE?

HOUSE · STICK FIGURE · SUN · TREE

FEATURES OF A KID'S DRAWING. HOUSE, STICK FIGURE, SUN and TREE all satisfy the official relationship FEATURES OF A KID'S DRAWING.

Best anchor: Subjects in a kid's drawing

Swinging London associationsReveal this group

What connects CARNABY STREET, MINISKIRT, MOD and TWIGGY?

CARNABY STREET · MINISKIRT · MOD · TWIGGY

ASSOCIATED WITH SWINGING LONDON IN THE 1960S. The exact referents CARNABY STREET, MINISKIRT, MOD and Twiggy the English model match the official Swinging London relationship.

Best anchor: Swinging London in the 1960s

Math abbreviations firstReveal this group

What connects COS LETTUCE, LOG CABIN, SIN CITY and TAN LINE?

COS LETTUCE · LOG CABIN · SIN CITY · TAN LINE

STARTING WITH ABBREVIATED MATH FUNCTIONS. COS LETTUCE, LOG CABIN, SIN CITY and TAN LINE begin with COS, LOG, SIN and TAN, satisfying the exact abbreviated-math-functions category.

Best anchor: Phrases beginning with math abbreviations

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 guideConnections #1196: Four Ways to WIDEN ONE'S SCOPEExplain this connection Supporting clue guideConnections #1196: FEATURES OF A KID'S DRAWINGExplain this connection Supporting clue guideConnections #1196: Swinging London in the 1960sExplain this connection Supporting clue guideConnections #1196: Phrases Starting With Math AbbreviationsExplain 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
    WIDEN ONE'S SCOPE

    Ways to widen one's scope

  2. 2
    FEATURES OF A KID'S DRAWING

    Subjects in a kid's drawing

  3. 3
    ASSOCIATED WITH SWINGING LONDON IN THE 1960S

    Swinging London in the 1960s

  4. 4
    STARTING WITH ABBREVIATED MATH FUNCTIONS

    Phrases beginning with math abbreviations

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: Test BRANCH OUT, DIVERSIFY, EXPAND and GROW together. Each preserves the broad relationship WIDEN ONE'S SCOPE without requiring a narrower shared setting..

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.

The four entries are direct verbs or verb phrases matching the same broad change in scope. groupBroaden the range
WIDEN ONE'S SCOPE: Ways to widen one's scope
The entries are familiar nouns, but the required relationship is specifically that they are features of a kid's drawing. groupChild-drawing features
FEATURES OF A KID'S DRAWING: Subjects in a kid's drawing
This group requires recognizing the exact 1960s London referents rather than relying on unrelated senses of individual words. groupSwinging London associations
ASSOCIATED WITH SWINGING LONDON IN THE 1960S: Swinging London in the 1960s
The connection appears at the starts of the complete entries, so the full phrases should not be forced into one subject area. groupMath abbreviations first
STARTING WITH ABBREVIATED MATH FUNCTIONS: Phrases beginning with math abbreviations

Language background

Useful guides for today’s wordplay

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

Language guideBranch Out Meaning: Definition, Examples and Connections Logic

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

Read the language guide Language guideTwiggy Meaning: The Adjective, the Name and the Puzzle Referent

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

Read the language guide Language guideCos Lettuce Meaning: Definition, Usage and Puzzle Wordplay

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

Jordan Ellis

Jordan connects editorial explanations with practice tools, custom puzzles and the site’s future original games.

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