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NYT Connections Puzzle #1124 — Answers & Solution
Thursday, July 9, 2026 · Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ Medium
🧩 NYT Connections Puzzle #1124 — Complete Answers
- 🟨 Yellow – Non-alcoholic designators: NA, SPIRIT-FREE, VIRGIN, ZERO-PROOF
- 🟩 Green – Music publications: BILLBOARD, PITCHFORK, ROLLING STONE, SPIN
- 🟦 Blue – Kinds of rugs: PERSIAN, PRAYER, SHAG, THROW
- 🟪 Purple – Pontiac models: FIREBIRD, G6, GRAND PRIX, TRANS AM
📋 All 16 Words — Puzzle #1124
✅ Full Answers — Puzzle #1124
🟨 Yellow — Non-alcoholic designators
🟩 Green — Music publications
🟦 Blue — Kinds of rugs
🟪 Purple — Pontiac models
🔍 Detailed Breakdown
🟨 Yellow (Easiest) — Non-alcoholic designators
The easiest category in Puzzle #1124 is "Non-alcoholic designators". The four words are:
- NA
- SPIRIT-FREE
- VIRGIN
- ZERO-PROOF
🟩 Green (Medium) — Music publications
The medium category in Puzzle #1124 is "Music publications". The four words are:
- BILLBOARD
- PITCHFORK
- ROLLING STONE
- SPIN
🟦 Blue (Hard) — Kinds of rugs
The hard category in Puzzle #1124 is "Kinds of rugs". The four words are:
- PERSIAN
- PRAYER
- SHAG
- THROW
🟪 Purple (Hardest) — Pontiac models
The hardest category in Puzzle #1124 is "Pontiac models". The four words are:
- FIREBIRD
- G6
- GRAND PRIX
- TRANS AM
🎯 Strategy Tips for Puzzle #1124
Start with the Yellow group — if you've ever browsed a cocktail menu or ordered a mocktail, the non-alcoholic designators (NA, VIRGIN, SPIRIT-FREE, ZERO-PROOF) should click immediately. Next, tackle Green: BILLBOARD, PITCHFORK, ROLLING STONE, and SPIN are all well-known music publications, though SPIN and ROLLING STONE have alternative meanings that can distract. For Blue, focus on "types of ___" — once you realize PERSIAN, PRAYER, SHAG, and THROW are all rugs, it snaps into place. Save Purple for last: FIREBIRD, G6, GRAND PRIX, and TRANS AM are all Pontiac models. The key insight is recognizing that Pontiac (discontinued in 2010) made cars with these exact names. Watch out for GRAND PRIX pulling you toward racing and FIREBIRD toward mythology.
⚠️ Red Herring Warning: GRAND PRIX is a major red herring — it could easily be mistaken for a Formula 1 or motorsport reference rather than a car model. Similarly, FIREBIRD may mislead solvers into thinking about mythology or the Stravinsky ballet. ROLLING STONE (without the "S") could pull toward the band rather than the magazine. PERSIAN has strong associations with cats, Gulf geography, and historical empires that distract from its rug meaning. SPIN could mislead toward music (DJ spinning records) AND toward rugs — pay attention to which group it actually fits.
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