Yellow group
Most direct
First nudge
Think of these as verbs, the kind of thing a wealthy patron does for a project.
Stronger nudge
Each one means to pay for something or to put money into it.
Group name
Finance
Connections hint #1209: October 2, 2026
Step-by-step hints and answers for Connections #1209, from Friday, October 2, 2026.
Friday's board looks simple at first because every word is short and familiar, but several of them can sit comfortably in more than one place. One word in particular looks made for the easiest set and does not belong there. Two sets are fairly direct, one is easy to leave half finished if you stop too soon, and the hardest set only comes together once the rest of the board is clear, so be patient with the last four words.
- LITTLE
- REAL ESTATE
- COMMON
- RING
- INDEX
- FUND
- BANKROLL
- RIB
- STANDARD
- MIDDLE
- STOCK
- SUPPORT
- BACK
- NUMBER
- ROUTINE
- TIME
Hints for Connections #1209
Open one step at a time. Step three names the group, so stop earlier if you want more of a challenge. New to the game? Read how to play Connections first, or see what the four colors mean.
Green group
Fairly direct
First nudge
Look down at your own hand for this one.
Stronger nudge
Each word names one of the digits you would count on, thumb not included.
Group name
Fingers
Blue group
Takes some thought
First nudge
These are adjectives for something you would not call special.
Stronger nudge
Each word describes the usual, expected version of a thing, such as a predictable reply.
Group name
Customary
Purple group
Trickiest
First nudge
One short word can go in front of all four.
Stronger nudge
Think of a steakhouse cut, a desirable location, an evening television slot and a figure divisible only by one and itself, then find the word they share.
Group name
Prime ___
Show the trap
STOCK, FUND and INDEX sit together like a page from an investing guide, and it is tempting to hunt for a fourth market term to join them. There is no such group: each of the three belongs to a different color. Before you commit, test every word as another part of speech, since several here work as a verb, a noun and an adjective.
More ways to dodge red herrings: our Connections tips.
Word meanings
Some meanings point toward a group, so they stay hidden until you open them.
Show meanings for 5 tricky words
- BANKROLL
- As a verb, to supply the money for a project or a person. As a noun, a roll of paper money or the funds someone has available.
- STOCK
- Besides a share in a company, it can be an adjective meaning ordinary or kept ready for regular use, as in a stock phrase.
- INDEX
- An alphabetical list at the back of a book, a measure of how a market is doing, and also the name of the finger next to the thumb.
- RIB
- One of the curved bones of the chest. In cooking, a cut of meat taken from that area, such as a rib roast.
- REAL ESTATE
- Property made up of land and the buildings on it. The phrase is also used loosely for any valuable space, such as room on a screen or a page.
Answers for Connections #1209
This section shows all four groups. Only open it if you're finished or ready to give up.
Show all four groups
-
Finance
BACK, BANKROLL, FUND, SUPPORT
To back, bankroll, fund or support a venture is to provide the money that keeps it going.
-
Fingers
INDEX, LITTLE, MIDDLE, RING
Index, little, middle and ring are the four fingers of the hand, leaving out the thumb.
-
Customary
COMMON, ROUTINE, STANDARD, STOCK
Common, routine, standard and stock all describe something ordinary or expected, as in a stock answer.
-
Prime ___
NUMBER, REAL ESTATE, RIB, TIME
Each word follows PRIME to make a familiar phrase: prime number, prime real estate, prime rib and prime time.
The solve at a glance
Start with the hand. MIDDLE and LITTLE can only be fingers, and RING and INDEX complete the set, which breaks up the investing trio straight away. BANKROLL then points to the money verbs, so BACK, FUND and SUPPORT join it. STOCK is now free to sit with COMMON, ROUTINE and STANDARD as words for ordinary. The four left, NUMBER, REAL ESTATE, RIB and TIME, all take PRIME in front.
Want to get better at spotting groups? Start with our Connections tips.
Answers checked against the official answers by Alan. This puzzle appeared on Friday, October 2, 2026.
More Connections puzzles
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Looking for a different day? Use the links below, or head to today's Connections hint. Every puzzle from October 2026 is listed on the October 2026 archive page.