NYT Connections Hint - February 3, 2026

Hey there, word adventurers! ☕️ Today's puzzle pile-up had me rifling through everything from kitchen tips to golf bag realities. My brain definitely did a 180-degree turn at least twice—crazy how a simple game can throw you for a loop, right? Ready to see how your day stacked up? You got this. 🎯

Word Explanations

• CARD

  • Ah, 'card'—not just for birthdays and business! Turns out your phone has a 'card' slot too (hi, memory card!). Did you know we call credit cards 'plastics'? Nah, that sticker's still there. Also—if you’ve ever taken a chance on an unknown game? You’re a ‘card’ yourself, I guess. Makes sense. 😅

• WOOD

  • Wood? Obviously, trees—but in golf, you’ve got 'woods' as the big drivers (back when they really WERE made of wood). Fun fact: even with metal now, they still call them woods for the old-fashioned sake! 🤭 And yes—the one you toss over a fire is wood too. Still smells like campfires to me. ✨

• FOAM

  • Ah, memory foam—you know you want a pillow made of nothing but support. It’s that cushy stuff that molds instantly and never loses its bounce. Kitchens? You’ll find foam boards for crafting; some swear it's 'cooler' for keeping your cake intact. Pretty versatile for something that started life wanting to help your sleep, huh?

• DICE

  • Dice, as nouns—little cubes for board games, as verbs—when we say you're 'dicing' onions like a pro. Did you know that 'dice' can also indicate a number two? No? Oh—it's from the Latin duo, meaning two. The only game I saw that played out. Anyway, the plural is the same: one die, two dice (but some folks call them 'dices' and honestly, I’m not starting an argument over that one!). 🎲

• BOARD

  • Board—as a noun, that flat piece of wood we use around the house—so many DIY projects! As a verb, though? 'To board' here means to provide someone with a place to stay—like sailors on a ship. And let's be honest: have you ever used a cutting board? The only 'board' that’s definitely not staying, just being sliced. 😂✂️

• CUBE

  • Cube, verb? To cut something into neat cubes (love that word!). Noun? That square 3D friend you’re planning to make into your next craft. Rubik's Cube, ice cube, sugar cube... all that. And in cooking—if you can’t even think about mincing garlic, cubing it is way easier to toss in. ⬛ Ice never looked as cool!

• QUARTER

  • Quarter? Not only the coin. This one also means to give someone a place to stay—in a military vibe, yes. But if you’ve got roommates and they’re your 'quarters', that’s a word. And don't forget: when it comes to baseball, you might have heard of a 'quarter'—oh wait, you think you know? Some folks use 'quarter' for food portions? No, no—quarters are places. Keep thinking. 😅

• HOLE

  • 'Hole'—like the dark spot in your head after a long puzzle day! 😂 It's that void thing—but also an architectural term: a foundation is no more than a big hole you plan. 'Memory hole' definitely hit me hard—like George Orwell’s thing for erasing memories. In golf, 'the hole' gets all the glory—like, are we sinking this ball or what? One reason to watch mini golf get complicated. 😆

• HASH

  • Hash—verb, meaning to cut/chop. Noun? That's that pan-fried dish I'm craving now. But it's not just food; you can 'hash out' ideas, too (like we're trying now!). Ever seen a '#' used as 'hash'? No, it's not slang for 'cool.' You're missing the symbol's original meaning: hash mark! Some people mistakenly call it 'pound'—maybe not the best choice for your emoji soup. #AmIRight #lol #butterfly. 💭💭💭

• HOUSE

  • House—when people need a home, it can be a place or a verb! As a noun: the building we live in; as a verb: you can 'house' ideas in your head like a genius. And you know, a 'house' can represent institutions, too—like 'a house of cards.' It sounds stable until... uh-oh. But if we say 'house music'? That's an entirely different idea. You tell me—do you love house or apartment living best?

• IRON

  • Iron—an element that’s both metal and the club. It's not the most flexible thing in the world, but sure can help you get out of sticky short-iron situations, just like ironing your shirts. Oh, and that phrase 'iron out your issues'? Might come from how that metal smooths everything flat. Like—wow, who knew we had a metaphor lying around! 🧥🏌️‍♂️⚙️

• MINCE

  • Mince—to cut food into very tiny pieces. The verb meaning of 'mince' also suggests being delicate, like a man who 'minces' across the stage (but no, that's not a compliment). The phrase 'to mince 'or else we talk plainly'—like if you can't say it straight? You don't 'mince words.' Let’s say you'd likely have a ton of minced meat at your next barbecue. YUM! ✂️️

• WEDGE

  • Wedge—this is both an instrument, like in your toolbox (oh, to pry open something hard open), and a golf thing you swing when you realize you've overshoot the green. It's that wedge cut? Wait—doesn't seem quite right—looks like some people call the shape a wedge cut. They also have 'sand wedges' for, well, getting you out of sand traps. So many shapes and uses in this word! ↔️

• LANE

  • Lane—think road lines. The one you run on for sports track days, or bowling alleys you use before your ball dives down the gutter (and that often means you've discovered your 'lane' is more like an adventure). And 'Memory Lane'? Always a favorite when you want to reminisce. Maybe a bit overused, but who cares! Try not to think how a 'house' can sometimes be a prison metaphor.

• LODGE

  • Lodge—a small house for a short stay, like a hunting lodge up in the woods? That’s cozy! It's also verb—meaning to stay there, to put up anywhere; like a foreign country even. Fun thing: if your cat “lodges” in your garden shed—she is staying there, not just moving. That’s clever, right? I didn't say I understood puns. 😊

• PUTTER

  • Putter—verb, putting to mean placing or moving something slowly, like a cat who 'putters' around. Noun, the golf club specifically used for holes on the green. It's also what you might hear when your neighbor says 'he's puttering around.' (Hello, friendly neighborhood retiree? You ever 'putter'? Lol.) Have you ever putted your day away? I wish I could. ⛳️

Theme Hints

1. CUT INTO PIECES

   • All about what happens in the kitchen when you can't decide if you want a perfect uniformity or a chaotic mess. 😅 Think tiny chef thoughts.

2. PROVIDE WITH A PLACE TO STAY

   • Think about different places you'd shelter someone. Some sound official, some are cozy, and some might even be a little weird when you really think about it.

3. KINDS OF GOLF CLUBS

   • Think of a golf bag's arsenal. From your long-distance drivers to your short-swing lifesavers. Who's your favorite?

4. MEMORY ___

   • Everything here lives under the 'memory' label. Some are tech things, some are sneaky old references, and 'foam'? Well—comfort counts, too.

Answers Explanation

Well, that was a wild ride! 🏌️‍♂️ Who would have thought a simple game could pack in so much variety—food prep, shelter, sports equipment, and memory techniques. My favorite? The golf clubs—couldn't help but feel like a pro just listing those sticks. 😂 No matter how you scored, you showed up and played, which is always a win in my book. See you tomorrow for another round of word wrangling—this time, maybe with fewer foam boards in the mix!