Connections Answers
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
1
POTTERY EQUIPMENT
These are all essential items or tools used when making pottery, which is the art of making objects from clay.
Individual words:
•CLAY: A natural, soft, earthy material. You shape it with your hands to make pots, bowls, or sculptures. It becomes hard and strong when baked.
•GLAZE: A special liquid paint applied to pottery. When baked, it turns into a hard, shiny, glass-like coating, making the pottery colorful and waterproof.
•KILN: A special, very hot oven used to bake clay items. The high heat makes clay hard and strong, and melts the glaze onto the surface.
•WHEEL: A machine with a flat, spinning disc. Potters use this 'potter's wheel' to quickly shape clay into perfectly round pots, bowls, and other vessels.
2
WALLOP
All these words are informal verbs meaning to hit someone very hard, often with a fist. To 'wallop' means to strike or hit with a hard blow.
Individual words:
•DECK: To 'deck' someone means to hit them very hard, causing them to fall down, like knocking them onto the floor (the deck).
•PUNCH: To 'punch' means to hit someone with your closed hand (fist). It's a common word for a strong hit, especially in a fight.
•SLUG: To 'slug' means to hit someone with a very heavy, forceful blow, usually with a fist. It implies a powerful, impactful hit.
•SOCK: To 'sock' someone means to hit them hard and powerfully, often surprisingly. It's an informal way to say you punched them strongly.
3
WORDS PRONOUNCED DIFFERENT WAYS AS PROPER NOUNS
These words are spelled the same as common English words, but they are pronounced differently when used as proper nouns (like names of people or places).
Individual words:
•HERB: As a plant, 'herb' is often said 'erb' (no 'h' sound) in America. 'Herb' is also a common man's name, pronounced the same way. This differs from British English where the 'h' in 'herb' (plant) is often pronounced.
•NICE: As an adjective, 'nice' means pleasant or kind, pronounced 'nyce'. But 'Nice' is also a famous city in France, which is pronounced 'neese,' sounding like the word 'niece.'
•POLISH: As a verb, 'polish' means to make something shiny (like shoes), pronounced 'pah-lish'. But 'Polish' describes something from Poland (like Polish food), and is said 'poh-lish,' with a long 'o' sound.
•READING: The act of 'reading' a book is pronounced 'ree-ding.' However, 'Reading' is also the name of a city in England and a town in Pennsylvania, USA. These cities are pronounced 'red-ding,' like the color red.
4
PICK-UP ___
'PICK-UP' is a word that can be placed before each of these words to create common phrases or names.
Individual words:
•ARTIST: A 'pick-up artist' is someone very skilled at meeting and attracting people, often for dating. The term can sometimes be used negatively.
•GAME: A 'pick-up game' is an informal sports match, like basketball, where players simply show up and join in, rather than being part of a formal team.
•STICKS: 'Pick-up sticks' is a traditional children's game. You drop a bundle of small sticks and try to remove them one by one without disturbing others.
•TRUCK: A 'pick-up truck' is a popular vehicle, especially in the US. It has a passenger cab and an open back area, called a 'bed', for carrying goods.