NYT Connections #1051
Hints, category titles, and full answers for Monday, April 27, 2026
Connections Hint #1051 — April 27, 2026
Connections Walkthrough — April 27, 2026
A breakdown of every category from the April 27, 2026 puzzle, the trap words designed to fool players, and what made it tricky.
Group-by-group breakdown (easiest to hardest)
- SALAD INGREDIENTS
You can pair the obvious lunch-counter items: RANCH DRESSING, RED ONION, ROASTED CHICKEN, ROMAINE LETTUCE.
- CLASSIC FILMS
After food, the four movie titles stand out, especially RAIN MAN, REAR WINDOW, RESERVOIR DOGS, and ROMAN HOLIDAY.
- "THE SIMPSONS" CHARACTERS
You can then gather Springfield names; RADIOACTIVE MAN and RALPH WIGGUM point strongly toward the same show.
- ENDING IN NBA PLAYERS
Leave the odd phrases and read their endings: BULL, KING, BUCK, and CLIPPER fit the basketball pattern.
The trap words that fool most players
Words placed in this puzzle to make one category look like another.
- RAGING BULLlooks like · CLASSIC FILMSactually · ENDING IN NBA PLAYERS
It is a famous movie title, but here its last word matters more than the film reference.
- REGINA KINGlooks like · CLASSIC FILMSactually · ENDING IN NBA PLAYERS
The actor connection can pull you toward movies, but the final word is the useful clue.
What makes this puzzle clever
Every entry starts with R, so initial letters won't separate groups; you need meanings and endings instead.
About this puzzle
This is the complete solution to NYT Connections puzzle #1051, originally published on Monday, April 27, 2026. The four categories ranged from SALAD INGREDIENTS (the easiest, yellow group) through ENDING IN NBA PLAYERS (the trickiest, purple group, which usually involves wordplay or hidden patterns).
You can browse our complete Connections archive for every past puzzle since the game launched in June 2023, or jump to today's puzzle for the latest hints.