Art Regales You With Scintillating Anecdotes On Wordle, Strands, And Connections

Art Regales You With Scintillating Anecdotes On Wordle, Strands, And Connections // Solving the NYT trifecta of word games for Wednesday, July 3, 2024

[@FGKPlays]

You did MUCH better than I did on Wordle today. That starting guess did great for you!

[@brandanbaker5604]

I can give you a real world example, Art. ... My niece this past Saturday was planning on a beautiful outdoor wedding. The weather forecast was looking pretty solid. However, about 5 minutes before the start, a very solid rain shower "THREW A WRENCH" in the outdoor plans, so we quickly transitioned to an indoor wedding. (By the way, she looked lovely as always, and this Uncle is very happy for her!).

[@patmurkland4161]

That’s the way to have a happy wedding regardless… congrats!

[@mycroft64089]

I didn't think of your starting word for today, so I ended up with TWERP THANK THIGH. Strands and connections were quite smooth, though I estimated purple as being easier and ended up with yellow, purple, green, blue.

[@ellensassani]

I've noticed that whenever Art says he can't find any categories, that's usually when he finds the first one. 🙂

[@ellensassani]

Well done, Art! Connections Puzzle #388 🟩🟩🟩🟩TANGIBLE 🟪🟪🟪🟪THINGS YOU "THROW" 🟨🟨🟨🟨CONSIDER DIFFERENT OPTIONS 🟦🟦🟦🟦TYPES OF CAKE Strands #122 “Spin your wheels” 🟡🔵🔵🔵 🔵🔵🔵🔵 Nice one! 🙂 Wordle 1,110 3/6* 🟩⬜⬜⬜⬜TRACE 🟩⬜⬜⬜🟩TOOTH I thought there might be two T's. I wasn't really prepared for two H's. 🙂 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩THIGH What a day for HEATH! 😆

[@hopechazz]

You were quite the character in middle school with the spitballs and here you are now teaching kids, Art. 😂

[@doraa.7873]

It does seem ironic, Chazz. I wonder how often naughty young Art got sent to the principal's office for disciplinary action. 😄

[@hopechazz]

@@doraa.7873 That's a good question and what were his consequences? 😂

[@ellensassani]

@@hopechazz Maybe the consequences took many years to materialize ... 🤭

[@hopechazz]

@@ellensassani It's very possible.

[@mtarvon3577]

Scoredle 4/6 14,855 🟩⬜⬜🟨⬜ TRAIL (77) ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ OUENS (13) 🟩🟩🟩⬜⬜ THICK (1) 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 THIGH Art, Great starting word and solve today. I like to see the quick answers, but I also like the more difficult solves where you (and we) really have to think to get the answer. Good job, and thanks for the posts!

[@michellelam6561]

Thanks Joe for the 2! A quick solve for Strands. Connections was a bit of struggle but I was able to solve with a few errors. I also had trouble with the yellow category; not familiar with spitball in that context.

[@user-wm3hu7lo1g]

I immediately saw that "spitball" is improvising ideas, not a physical ball of spit and paper; while curveball is when someone's thrown a wrench in your plans so it was a relief you stumbled upon the final category. However, for me "throwing a wrench" makes me think of Dodgeball - if you can dodge a wrench (physically thrown at you) you can dodge a ball! :-)

[@UTU49]

Did anyone throw a workshop?

[@SethWilson]

Well that Connections kinda threw a wrench in your otherwise perfect solving day!

[@LadyAndreaRose]

2 for wordle. 😃 10 for Stands. Connections was tricky, frustrating and fun. No style points for me today. I thought cakes were going to be yellow. As I was going through my thought process of my solve, I realized that I named purple very early on without realizing it, Lol, "distruptions like throw a curveball and throw a wrench into something." I was finding only 3 words for the yellow and green at first. I guesses on the 4th ones and was right. Whew. I thought workshop and material weak words for those categories.

[@hopechazz]

I like your play of words with wrench/curveball in your situation. These ONE AWAYS/Red Herrings are afraid of you and bully me! 😂

[@doraa.7873]

To "throw a wrench" into something means to damage it or prevent it from working properly. Sometimes people call it a "monkey wrench," which I think might be a more familiar term. "Spitballing'" is a slang term for kicking some ideas around, brainstorming. The noun "ideation" is probably more familiar than "ideate" (the verb.) It means just what you thought...developing ideas.

[@georgesthibaudeau1533]

Indeed, only one solution left according to WordleBoth: HEATH THIGH

[@geowiz9436]

Wordle in 2 (Literally couldn't have picked a more perfect word Joe!) HEATH THIGH Connections: One mistake, and messed up the order (I switched Green and Yellow). Under 5 minutes and all categories. You would say "To throw a wrench in someone's plans" when you hinder something. 8/10 Strands: 10/10 Spangram first, no hints and under 3 minutes. Altogether, pretty good day for me.

[@hopechazz]

Had a 10 in Strands and was able to light up all four categories in Connections. Guessed the word "thigh" in three tries: ADIEU, FLINT, THIGH

[@doraa.7873]

Good job!

[@hopechazz]

Thanks.

[@Tsteinlauf]

Well done!! 👏🎶

[@hopechazz]

@@Tsteinlauf ☺️

[@hopechazz]

☺️

[@joeybearden3120]

Connections BBBB - _____ cake PPPP - Things you can metaphorically throw GGGG - Ways to describe a physical being YYYY - Come up with ideas Under five minutes (about 2:30)

[@chinareds54]

WORDLE: Substituted a flower with 5 unique letters. HOSTA PINED CURLY THIGH --------- STRANDS 122, 10 Another super hard mode fail. I found the spangram and carefully considered whether it would be singluar or plural, waiting until I found SADDLE to commit to the singular form... and immediately misspelled it starting with the letter D instead of B. Total solve time 1:10. ---------- CONNECTIONS 387, 9.5 Vision Cast (1) Actual (1) Cakes (1) Things You Throw (0.5) Probably the most frustrating 9.5 ever.

[@hopechazz]

You should get 10 points. Leaving out the word METAPHORS should not prevent you from getting the full point. The key word here is THROW, Chinareds. I am sure that others would give you 10 points as well.

[@lisag8476]

Wordle 1,110 2/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨🟩 heath 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 thigh Thanks for the 2! Fun to get lucky like that! Strands #122 “Spin your wheels” 🟡🔵🔵🔵 🔵🔵🔵🔵 I saw fender first, then kickstand. Very quick solve today. Connections Puzzle #388 🟦🟦🟦🟦 cake 🟪🟪🟪🟪 throw it 🟩🟩🟩🟩 touch it 🟨🟨🟨🟨 think it up I really thought I had the order nailed down and that purple was going to be cake. Not so. I haven't heard of spitball as a synonym for brainstorm, but there was no overlap between the categories at all today, so it was easy to deduce where it had to go.

[@hopechazz]

On a positive note, this BEAST has had her share of 10 points in Connections! 😂 I was in other sites as well and it was nice seeing others displaying similar skills as mine in this game. There were even a few others not doing as well as I did. 😊 You and a few other players in this site, Lisa, are being too critical about your mistakes. I would be thrilled getting your scores!

[@judygibson5386]

"throw a wrench in the works" = sabotage

[@auldfouter8661]

Sabotage , from sabot = a wooden shoe ( clog type footwear) , used to compromise weaving machines.

[@randolpho-]

Wordle 1,110 4/6 ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛SAUCE 🟨⬛⬛⬛⬛IRONY ⬛🟨⬛⬛⬛VIVID 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩THIGH (this was my first instinct and I stuck with it, there was 6-9 likely words left over) Strands #122 “Spin your wheels” 🟡🔵🔵🔵 🔵🔵🔵🔵 Connections Puzzle #388 🟨🟨🟨🟨THINK UP 🟩🟩🟩🟩PHYSICAL 🟪🟪🟪🟪THINGS YOU THROW 🟦🟦🟦🟦TYPES OF CAKE (___CAKE, thought this was the purple)

[@randolpho-]

CURVEBALL and WRENCH, I was thinking of *THINGS THAT RUIN OR CHANGE PLANS* Although, Curveball is more of a shocking detail that is revealed.

[@jemimahgertrude590]

Wordle in 2: HEATH - THIGH Connections: YELLOW - (3 purples & 1 blue) - PURPLE - (2 blues & 2 greens) - GREEN - BLUE Everyone has their knowledge strengths and weaknesses. For instance, I’ve never heard of CRUMB CAKE which is why it came last.

[@sambright3719]

@jemimahgertrude590. I thought I'd never heard of crumb cake so I Googled it, and then I was certain I'd never heard of it. 😊 🇬🇧

[@doraa.7873]

Crumb cake is a rich, buttery cake that gets its name from its thick, soft, crumb topping (sometimes called a streusel topping) made with flour, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon.

[@UTU49]

9/10. Connections Puzzle #388 🟨🟨🟨🟨 WTCM “work on ideas” 🟩🟩🟩🟩 WTCM “solid” or similar 🟪🟪🟪🟪 things you can throw 🟦🟦🟦🟦 _____ cake RIOT: 4401. 9/10 Time: 4:51 DIFFICULTY, as reported by NYT testers: 2.8/5 Just missed the color order again.

[@UTU49]

Strands #122 “Spin your wheels” 🔵🔵🟡🔵 🔵🔵🔵🔵 2:46 First word: KICKSTAND Last word: BRAKE

[@TomCee53]

Throw a (monkey) wrench is to cause a process to stop, like literally throwing a wrench into a literal machine. Spitballing is throwing ideas

[@jemimahgertrude590]

Lol, I have to remember that! We call a wrench a spanner, so we say "Throw a spanner in the works". Hence my first mistake.

[@hopechazz]

Did you end up catching that opossum? If so, did you end up killing it or did you let it go? Perhaps you kept it as a pet. 😂

[@hopechazz]

Others had concerns about whether you killed this opossum or not if you caught it. I would really appreciate a response from you this time, Tom, as this comment from me is a day later. Choosing not to respond is bad manners as you have done this with me on other occasions. Although I am easy going, I can again be blunt/tough with others when necessary. 😂

[@TomCee53]

I released the opossum in a wooded area several miles from my house.

[@TomCee53]

@hopechazz I'm sorry if I missed previous replies. My life I'd pretty chaotic, and sometimes I miss messages. I do my best.

[@TwoBuckToll]

Wordle 1,110 2/6 🟨⬛⬛🟨🟩 HEATH 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 THIGH I can’t take credit for this solve since it was the only word left for the challenge start word. I did choose to do the challenge so I am not writing The NY Times to remove it from my stats or anything. Strands - I thought it could be bicycle from the clue and went looking for it. Connections Puzzle #388 🟩🟩🟩🟩 actual, not abstract 🟨🟨🟨🟨 come up with ways to do something 🟪🟪🟪🟪 things you throw 🟦🟦🟦🟦 types of cake They throw a spinner in the works in the UK/ Ireland instead of a wrench.

[@Maniz9]

:(

[@auldfouter8661]

Spitballing in the sense of coming up with ideas wasn't used in the UK thankfully. It will probably muscle its way in at any time. Yuck.

[@doraa.7873]

It is a rather disgusting 😛term (but also kind of fun to say!) Makes you wonder about the derivation.

[@auldfouter8661]

What is wrong with the word mudguard Americans? That's what everyone else calls fenders LOL.

[@ellensassani]

My Scottish teammate mentioned getting "Maltesers" out of the vending machine. I had to look that up. I told him ours are called "Whoppers". He said, "Then what does Burger King sell?" 😆

[@UTU49]

​@@ellensassani Ha! I love both Whoppers and Maltesers. We've always had both in Canada. My favorite drugstore has them sitting right next to each other. Maltesers are a little more chocolatey, but Whoppers have a little more malt flavor. There is no chance that I won't buy some next time I see them.

[@losh23]

Dodgeball

[@ldfahrni]

If you can dodge a wrench . . .

[@doraa.7873]

STARE TINCT TWILL THIGH Strands #122 “Spin your wheels” 🔵🟡🔵🔵 🔵🔵🔵🔵 Connections Puzzle #388 🟨🟨🟨🟨 Exchange and develop ideas 🟩🟩🟩🟩 Actual, not abstract or imaginary 🟪🟪🟪🟪 Things you can throw (figuratively speaking) 🟦🟦🟦🟦 Kinds of cake

[@pwmiles56]

You throw a wrench in the works, meaning to mess things up (in the UK we throw or put a spanner in the works, I don't know which direction the idiom went). Spitballing is American for throwing ideas around. I kind of knew ideate but it sounds very pretentious alongside the others. No way could I have got the cakes. Connections Puzzle #388 🟨🟨🟨🟨 work creatively in a group, 1 🟩🟩🟩🟩 substantial, 1 🟪🟪🟪🟪 things you can throw, 1 🟦🟦🟦🟦 ???, 0 3 categories, no mistakes, no bonuses = 7 Total to July 3 7.5+7+7 = 21.5 Averages to date July 2024 7.2 June 2024 6.0 May 2024 5.5

[@Tsteinlauf]

Strands #122 “Spin your wheels” 🔵🔵🔵🟡 🔵🔵🔵🔵 9 I fell for the alternate Spangram. RATS!! Wordle 1,110 4/6 ⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨 🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ADIEU - SNORT - GLYPH - THIGH Connections Puzzle #388 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟪🟪🟪🟪 TYPES OF CAKE = 1 THINGS YOU CAN HOLD ONTO =:1 FORMULATE IDEAS = 1 THINGS YOU CAN THROW = 1 STYLE: 0. TOTAL: 8 Throwing a party and throwing a tantrum are NOT metaphors, just an alternative meaning of the word "throw." Sometimes Wyna Liu gets carried away, which, as used here, IS a metaphor. 😄

[@subodhcsingh]

Wordle 1,110 4/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨AMONG ⬜⬜⬜🟩⬜SURGE ⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜PIGGY 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩THIGH

[@subodhcsingh]

Strands #122 “Spin your wheels” 🟡🔵🔵🔵 🔵🔵🔵🔵

[@christiana6018]

Heath thigh Great starting word Joe wouldn’t have gotten it in 2 without you 🟡🔵🔵🔵 🔵🔵🔵🔵 Perfect strands as usual 🟨🟨🟨🟨think about ideas 🟩🟩🟩🟩physical 🟪🟪🟪🟪things you can throw 🟦🟦🟦🟦??? Took my time for once and got it almost perfect could’ve gotten it in order but was too focused on just finishing it since I’ve failed the last few. Still not sure how the scoring works but phenomenal day overall

[@hopechazz]

Lighting up/naming all four categories, getting color order, and solving within 5 minutes gets you a perfect 10 points. I am thinking that you had 7 points. If you solved Connections today within 5 minutes, you had 8 points, Christian.

[@christiana6018]

@@hopechazz so getting all 4 categories is 4 points, naming each is 4 points, the order is 1 point, and the time is the last point?

[@hopechazz]

​​​​@@christiana6018 EXACTY!!! 😀 You have your full 8 points. The added two bonus points would be color order and time factor within 5 minutes. I have had 9 points on different occasions and have yet to get 10 points. This may or may not happen in the future. Did you end up getting 7 or 8 points today, Christian?

[@hopechazz]

Wyna, the creator of this game, does not have a point system. The goal is to just light up all four categories. If you have no misses, it is a perfect game. I was able to light up all four categories, but had three misses only giving me 1 point here. Being able to name all four categories gave me 4 points with my having a total of 5 points. I was not able to get the added bonus points with color order/time, Christian.

[@UTU49]

We used that scoring system for February, March, and April. Some of us are still using it. I like it, so I count it and report it everyday. One note. You can get the color order bonus for either direction. Oh, and actually, it's a little tricky to describe, but your base points are one point for each GUESS you have remaining, and one point for each correct title. So you get 4/4 points for not making any mistakes and lose a point with each mistake. I like that this system weighs your mistakes and your category titles equally, four points for each of those two aspects of the game.

[@tclark8205]

Strands #122 “Spin your wheels” 🟡🔵🔵🔵 🔵🔵🔵🔵