Cracking the NYT Connections Puzzle: Solutions for October 21, 2024

Today, let's unravel what's going on with the October 21, 2024, edition of the NYT Connections puzzle. It's one of those brain teasers that huddles 16 words into neat clusters of four, and let me tell you, this one is both fun and tricky.

Spotting the Categories

This puzzle is split into four distinct categories, starting with what might just be your new grocery list: the Kinds of Beans. Here, you'll find Kidney, Mung, Navy, and Pinto beans. These are your straightforward legumes, but don't get lost in thoughts about organ meats here—that's a different category altogether!

The next batch, the Attract category, is where verbs like Draw, Grab, Hook, and Pull take center stage. These are all about magnetizing attention, but keep art out of your mind—it won't help you this time.

Tackling Trickier Terms

Moving on to the automotive realm, we have the Automatic Gear Shifter Positions. Think about where your hand automatically jumps when in the driver's seat: Drive, Low, Neutral, and Reverse. Here's a hint: no fancy gear terms like 'clutch' or 'stick'—just plain automatic positions.

Finally, the real head-scratcher of the day, the ___ Pool group. This one combines those words that slot nicely before 'pool' to form everyday phrases: Car, Dead, Liver, and Whirl. If you're dreaming of a 'liverpool' or a 'deadpool,' you're on the right track!

These categories require a careful dance around overlapping themes. Steer clear of any organ-related tangents for liver and kidney despite how tempting it might be. Instead, focus on how words like 'Car' team up with 'pool' to make compound terms we hear all the time.

So, if you found yourself tangled up in this puzzle, remember: It's all about untangling words into those aha! moments. Happy puzzling!