Solve the NYT Connections Puzzle #562 (December 24, 2024) - A Christmas Eve Conundrum!

Stuck on today's Connections puzzle from the New York Times Games? Don't worry, this guide provides hints, clues, and ultimately, the solutions, to help you conquer this word puzzle, even on Christmas Eve.

The words in today's puzzle are: Lions, Tigers, Bears, Oh My, Dear, Jays, Bills, Use, Bye, Bees, Please, Close, Tight, Gimme, Ease, and Intimate.

General Hints:

• No sports teams.
• No specific animal categories.
• "Bye" and "Gimme" belong together.

Category Clues and Answers:

Yellow (Easy):

• Hint: A famous Wizard of Oz phrase.
• Answer: Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!
• Words: Bears, Lions, Oh my, Tigers

Green (Medium):

• Hint: Close companions.
• Answer: Beloved, as a Friend
• Words: Close, Dear, Intimate, Tight

Blue (Hard):

• Hint: Consider words that sound like plural letters. (Example clues: Seas, Geeze, Eyes)
• Answer: Words that Sound Like Plural Letters
• Words: Bees, Ease, Jays, Use

Purple (Tricky):

• Hint: Think song titles, tripled.
• Answer: When Tripled, Hit Song Titles
• Words: Bills, Bye, Gimme, Please

Complete Solution:

• Yellow - Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!: Bears, Lions, Oh my, Tigers
• Green - Beloved, as a Friend: Close, Dear, Intimate, Tight
• Blue - Words that Sound Like Plural Letters: Bees, Ease, Jays, Use
• Purple - When Tripled, Hit Song Titles: Bills, Bye, Gimme, Please

Ready to play more? Head over to the New York Times Games Connections website!