Connections Answers

Thursday, September 3, 2026

TWO SHAKES OF A LAMB'S TAIL

These words all refer to a very short period of time, similar to the idiom 'two shakes of a lamb's tail,' which means 'very quickly.'

Individual words:

•BLINK: To quickly close and open your eyes. It happens very fast, often in a fraction of a second, without much thought.

•FLASH: A sudden, brief burst of light, or something that happens extremely quickly. It appears and disappears almost instantly.

•HEARTBEAT: One single pump of your heart. A single beat lasts a very short moment. Your heart beats many times per minute.

•TRICE: This word means 'a very short time' or 'an instant.' It is a slightly old-fashioned way to say 'immediately' or 'very quickly'.

SHADES OF RED

All these words are specific names for different shades or types of the color red. They are not basic reds, but more nuanced descriptions.

Individual words:

•CARMINE: Carmine is a deep, vivid red color, often like a rich crimson. You might see this shade in expensive paints or some bright red lipsticks.

•CINNABAR: Cinnabar is a bright, reddish-orange color, similar to a very strong brick red. It gets its name from a mineral used for ancient pigments.

•MAROON: Maroon is a very dark red color, often mixed with a bit of brown. It's a common color for school uniforms, sports teams, or dark red cars.

•VERMILLION: Vermillion is a brilliant, fiery red color, almost with an orange hint. It's a very vibrant and striking pure red, often used in art.

TOY CAR BRANDS

These are all well-known brands that make toy cars, trucks, or other vehicles for children. They are popular toys in American culture.

Individual words:

•HOT WHEELS: A very famous American brand of small metal toy cars. Popular since 1968, kids collect them and race them on tracks. They are known for cool designs and speed.

•MATCHBOX: A popular brand of small toy cars and trucks. They are known for looking like real vehicles. Many American children grow up playing with Matchbox toys.

•MICRO MACHINES: A brand famous for making extremely tiny toy cars, trucks, and planes. Much smaller than Hot Wheels, they often come in playsets and are collected by kids.

•TONKA: A brand known for strong, usually larger metal toy trucks, like dump trucks and bulldozers. American children often use them for playing outdoors in sand or dirt.

SPREADSHEET FUNCTIONS

These words are all names of common functions you use in computer programs like Excel. They help you do math with numbers in a spreadsheet.

Individual words:

•AVERAGE: The average is a number that represents the middle value of a group of numbers. For example, your average test score is the total of your scores divided by the number of tests.

•COUNT: To count means to find the total number of items or entries. In a spreadsheet, the COUNT function tells you how many cells have numbers in them.

•MAX: MAX means the largest or highest value in a group. For example, the MAX function in a spreadsheet finds the biggest number in a list.

•SUM: The SUM is the total amount you get when you add all the numbers together. In a spreadsheet, the SUM function adds up all the numbers in a selected area.