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NYT Connections Hints for September 8, 2025 (#858)

Game

FISH
HIKE
HUNT
JACK
BULL
PEEL
ARCHER
TAIL
CRANK
WALK
NAP
BUNK
BALONEY
RAISE
RUBBISH
POWERS

Hints by Category

Words meaning foolish or meaningless talk

BALONEY
Slang for nonsense or foolish talk, often used to express disbelief.
BULL
Short for 'bullshit', meaning nonsense or lies.
BUNK
Meaningless or empty talk; nonsense.
RUBBISH
British English term for nonsense or worthless talk, commonly understood in American English.

INCREASE, WITH "UP"

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Verbs that mean to increase or elevate, often paired with 'up'

CRANK
As in 'crank up', meaning to increase intensity or volume.
HIKE
As in 'hike up', meaning to raise or increase, often used for prices or rates.
JACK
As in 'jack up', meaning to raise or increase, commonly used for prices or levels.
RAISE
As in 'raise up', meaning to lift or increase, though 'raise' alone often implies increase.

FICTIONAL SPIES

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Characters from spy fiction in literature, TV, or film

ARCHER
Refers to Sterling Archer from the animated TV series 'Archer', a comedic spy.
HUNT
Refers to Ethan Hunt from the 'Mission: Impossible' film series.
PEEL
Refers to Emma Peel from the classic TV series 'The Avengers', a British spy.
POWERS
Refers to Austin Powers from the 'Austin Powers' film series, a parody spy character.

Common phrases or compound words starting with 'cat'

FISH
Part of 'catfish', which can refer to the fish or an online deception.
NAP
Part of 'catnap', meaning a short sleep or light rest.
TAIL
Part of 'cattail', a type of plant, or referring to a cat's tail.
WALK
Part of 'catwalk', meaning a narrow platform used in fashion shows or by cats.