NYT Connections April 20, 2025 #679 Hints & Answers
Need help with the New York Times Connections puzzle for April 20, 2025? PuzzHelp offers a complete guide with progressive hints, full answers, and insights for today's NYT Connections game #679. Our step-by-step approach helps you learn category patterns and solve challenging word groups without spoiling the fun. Explore hints, answers, and interesting facts about each category below.
Today's Connections Hints
General Hints
Click to reveal a helpful hint about each category in today's game.
One Word from Each Category
Click to reveal one word from each color group to help you get started.
Today's Connections Answers
GLIMPSE
GANDER, GLANCE, LOOK, PEEP
NEEDS FOR TIE-DYEING A SHIRT
BASIN, DYE, RUBBER BANDS, SHIRT
THINGS YOU CAN CRACK
CODE, EGG, JOKE, WHIP
WORDS BEFORE "HOP"
BAR, BUNNY, HIP, SOCK
Answer Explanations
Word-by-Word Analysis
GANDER
An informal term meaning to take a quick look at something, as in 'take a gander at this'
GLANCE
A brief or hurried look
LOOK
To direct one's gaze; can be brief or sustained but in this context refers to a quick visual check
PEEP
A quick, furtive look, often through a small opening or from a concealed position
The term 'gander' as a verb meaning 'to look' derives from the male goose (a gander), which is known for stretching its neck to look around. This usage dates back to early 20th century American slang. The phrase 'take a gander' became particularly popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
Word-by-Word Analysis
BASIN
A container that holds water or liquid dye during the tie-dyeing process
DYE
The colored substance that permanently stains fabric in tie-dyeing
RUBBER BANDS
Elastic bands used to bind and scrunch fabric to create tie-dye patterns
SHIRT
The garment that is commonly tie-dyed, providing the canvas for the colorful design
While tie-dyeing gained mainstream popularity in America during the 1960s counterculture movement, the technique itself dates back over 6,000 years. Evidence of tie-dye techniques has been found in textiles from ancient Peru, Japan, India, and Africa. The Japanese technique called 'shibori' dates back to the 8th century and uses binding, folding, and compressing methods similar to modern tie-dyeing.
Word-by-Word Analysis
CODE
To 'crack a code' means to decipher or break an encryption or secret system of communication
EGG
Breaking the shell of an egg, typically for cooking purposes
JOKE
To 'crack a joke' means to tell a humorous story or make a funny remark
WHIP
To 'crack a whip' refers to the sharp sound made when a whip is swung quickly through the air
The phrase 'crack a joke' has been in use since at least the 18th century. The 'crack' in this context likely refers to the sudden, sharp delivery of the punchline, similar to the sound of something breaking or snapping. This connection between sound and humor extends to other expressions like 'wise crack' and 'crack up' (meaning to laugh uncontrollably).
Word-by-Word Analysis
BAR
Forms 'bar hop,' meaning to visit multiple bars in succession during one outing
BUNNY
Creates 'bunny hop,' a simple jump or dance move where one jumps with both feet together, or a bicycle/motorcycle technique for jumping obstacles
HIP
Forms 'hip hop,' a music genre and cultural movement that originated in African American communities in the 1970s
SOCK
Makes 'sock hop,' a casual teen dance event popular in the 1950s where attendees removed their shoes to protect the gymnasium floor
The term 'sock hop' originated in the 1940s and 1950s when school dances were often held in gymnasiums with polished wooden floors. To prevent scuffing the floors, students were required to remove their shoes and dance in their socks. These events became significant cultural touchstones during the early rock and roll era, featuring artists like Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley, and have been immortalized in films like 'Grease.'
Today's Red Herrings
Clothing-Related Terms
SHIRT, SOCK, and RUBBER BANDS (as accessories) might initially appear to form a clothing-related category, distracting from their intended groupings.
Animal References
BUNNY, GANDER (as a male goose), WHIP (horse whip), and potentially EGG could mislead players into thinking about an animal-themed connection.
Dance/Movement Terms
Several words connect to movement or dancing: BUNNY HOP, HIP HOP, SOCK HOP, and even WHIP (as in a dance move). This could create a false pattern distinct from the actual 'words before HOP' category.
Container Items
BASIN, EGG (as a container of yolk/white), and potentially BAR (as a container of drinks) might form a deceptive grouping related to things that hold other things.
Sight and Perception
Beyond the intended 'GLIMPSE' category, words like CODE (visual patterns), DYE (color), and PEEP could create confusion around themes of visibility and observation.
Today's Learning Moments
Semantic Field Awareness
The 'GLIMPSE' category highlights synonyms within a specific semantic field, showing how English offers numerous nuanced ways to express similar concepts but with different connotations or levels of formality.
Cultural Activity Knowledge
The tie-dyeing category introduces or reinforces knowledge about a specific cultural craft process, potentially educating players about the materials and methods involved in this popular activity.
Polysemous Verb Recognition
The 'THINGS YOU CAN CRACK' category demonstrates how the same verb can take on different meanings with different objects, showcasing the flexibility and context-dependency of English verbs.
Compound Word Formation
The 'WORDS BEFORE HOP' category illustrates how compound terms and fixed expressions emerge in language, combining simple words to create new concepts with specific cultural or historical significance.
Craft Terminology
The tie-dyeing category introduces specialized vocabulary related to a specific craft, demonstrating how activities develop their own lexical field of essential tools and materials.
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