New Delhi, June 15 -- figurative language tied to lasting success, the vocabulary of getting dressed up, the ancient symbolism of the Chinese zodiac, and a botanical corner devoted to some of the garden's more unusual flowers. On the surface, the 16 words look manageable. In practice, the puzzle does what the best Connections grids always do: it hides its logic just long enough to make solvers question everything they thought they knew.

If you are here to protect a streak, check a guess, or simply understand why today's board behaved the way it did, everything you need is below. Spoilers follow the hint section.

What Is NYT Connections?

The Connections game presents players with 16 words arranged in a four-by-four grid. The task is to ...