Note : Make sure to complete today’s NYT Connections before reading further! We’ll be getting into spoilers for today’s game pretty quickly. If you need some help to complete the grid, you can find my NYT Connections hints and answers column for today via my author page .

Hey there, Connectors! Welcome to my deeper dive into today’s Connections answers. The idea behind this is to help clear things up for anyone who isn’t sure how today’s groups fit together.

If I’ve missed any red herrings or misunderstood something, let me know via email or on Discord . I don’t typically look at X or check the comments here.

I’m going to assume that you’ve already beaten today’s game. We’re going straight into spoiler territory here. So, consider this your one and only warning .

Here are today’s NYT Connections answers explained (and any red herrings I spot) for Monday, July 27:

Today’s NYT Connections Answers Explained

Connections – Yellow Group

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Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase

🟨 gymnastics apparatus (BEAM, HORSE, RINGS, VAULT)

The balance BEAM is an elevated, thin beam on which gymnasts perform a routine. Only female gymnasts use this apparatus in competition.

Conversely, the pommel HORSE (an elevated apparatus with two handles) and still RINGS (two of which are suspended from the roof) are used only by male gymnasts in competition.

All gymnasts can use a VAULT in competition. This is an apparatus that’s a bit like a table. Gymnasts sprint toward it, jump off a springboard and use their hands to push themselves off the VAULT. They’ll then flip in the air to score points and (hopefully) land on their feet on a mat.

Connections – Green Group

🟩 long tapered things (CARROT, ICICLE, KNITTING NEEDLE, STALACTITE)

These are all things that narrow down to a point. The category title pretty much handles things for us here. However, I will note that a STALACTITE is a formation that hangs from ceilings.

The most common form is found in limestone caves. It’s formed by a liquid solution of minerals that drips from ceilings and creates an ICICLE-like structure over time. Here’s a visual explainer:

🟦 kinds of shifts (DOPPLER, GRAVEYARD, PARADIGM, STICK)

The DOPPLER shift is also known as the DOPPLER effect. It’s to do with waves and how relative they are to an observer who moves relative to its source. Think of the way noise from a car changes while you’re walking along a street when it approaches, passes and then travels away from you:

The GRAVEYARD shift refers to a period of work that takes place during the night, often starting after midnight.

A PARADIGM shift is a fundamental change in our understanding of a scientific concept or discipline.

A STICK shift is also called a shifter or gear shift. You’ll find them in vehicles with manual transmissions.

Connections – Purple Group

🟪 icons on a shopping site (BELL, CART, HEART, MAGNIFYING GLASS)

These all refer to things you’d see on a retailer’s app or website.

The BELL is where you’ll see notifications. The CART is all the items you plan to buy go before you check out.

If you tap or click on the HEART next to an item, that usually means you’re adding it as a favorite item to go on your wishlist or revisit later (maybe when it’s on sale). A MAGNIFYING GLASS usually takes you to the app or website’s search function.

Connections – Red Herrings

Other than the top line – CART before a HORSE and a CARROT on a STICK – I didn’t see any red herrings this time.

If you’d like to chat about today’s game of Connections and just about anything else with me and a very lovely group of people, you can do just that in our Discord community . We’d love for you to hang out with us.

I’ll be back with another set of NYT Connections hints and answers tomorrow, as well as another edition of this one, all going well. You’ll be able to find both of those on my Forbes author page when the time comes (following me there helps me out too!). As for the weekend editions of my NYT Connections hints and answers column, I’m currently doing that via my newsletter, Pastimes .