NYT Connections Hints for August 21, 2026 (#1251)
Game
WIMPY
WHILE
SLEEP
GENERATION
LIFETIME
ACTION
OXYGEN
COMEBACK
SHOWTIME
KARATE
SUNDANCE
PLACES
WATER
BLUE MOON
CURTAIN UP
NUTRITION
Hints by Category
THINGS MOST ANIMALS NEED
Back to CategoriesBasic biological needs for animals
NUTRITION
Food and nourishment required for growth and health.
OXYGEN
A gas most animals need to breathe in order to live.
SLEEP
A natural resting state necessary for health and survival in most animals.
WATER
The essential liquid that animals need to drink to survive.
CALLS TO BEGIN A PERFORMANCE
Back to CategoriesCues or commands used to start a show, play, or film
ACTION
A director's cue for actors to start a scene.
CURTAIN UP
A theatre instruction for the curtain to rise and the performance to begin.
PLACES
A backstage call for performers to take their positions before the show starts.
SHOWTIME
An announcement that the performance or show is about to begin.
___ KIDS
Back to CategoriesWords that commonly come before 'kids' to form phrases or titles
COMEBACK
As in 'comeback kids' — people or teams who recover from a tough situation or losing streak.
KARATE
As in 'karate kids' — children who practice karate; also evokes 'The Karate Kid' film.
SUNDANCE
As in 'The Sundance Kid' from the famous film; also 'Sundance kids' can suggest young creatives or the animated series 'The Sundance Kids.'
WIMPY
As in 'wimpy kids' — weak or timid children; also evokes 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid.'
ONCE IN A ___
Back to CategoriesIdiomatic phrases using 'once in a...' to describe frequency or rarity
BLUE MOON
Once in a blue moon: very rarely.
GENERATION
Once in a generation: something that happens only about once per generation.
LIFETIME
Once in a lifetime: so rare that it typically happens only once in a person's life.
WHILE
Once in a while: occasionally, from time to time.