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Original poster

Would you ever refer to sex as commerce or congress? (Spoiler alert for today’s puzzle)

56 replies

JMSA · 02/08/2025 11:14

Bloody NYT Connections and the woman who makes them up!
What absolute nonsense.

OP posts:
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Nonotlikethat · 02/08/2025 22:33

MsPulchritude · 02/08/2025 12:06

I don't mind when I don't get a connection/strand/mini, if it's down to some stupid Americism. I only mind when it's my own incompetence!

Americans don't call sex "commerce." I'm a 50-something American and have never heard this. I looked it up; it's an archaic euphemism.

CurlewKate · 02/08/2025 22:04

JMSA · 02/08/2025 19:49

Here’s a connection for you: joyless, condescending, arrogant, haughty

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Sorry-don’t get it. It’ll have to be today’s “just happened.”

Arran2024 · 02/08/2025 19:53

I got them all today but only because I left this line to the end. I didnt understand commerce either.

MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 02/08/2025 19:51

I didn’t get it too.

Original poster
JMSA · 02/08/2025 19:49

ParmaVioletTea · 02/08/2025 18:35

Congress is quite normal in historical texts. And ditto for commerce. Clearly the puzzle setter is better read than the puzzlers.

Here’s a connection for you: joyless, condescending, arrogant, haughty

OP posts:
Aznavour · 02/08/2025 19:04

ParmaVioletTea · 02/08/2025 18:35

Congress is quite normal in historical texts. And ditto for commerce. Clearly the puzzle setter is better read than the puzzlers.

Well, I guess that put us in our place. 😅 What a lovely addition to this thread. 😅

CurlewKate · 02/08/2025 18:56

i wouldn’t use it but congress is definitely a word for it. Commerce, not so much!

ParmaVioletTea · 02/08/2025 18:35

Congress is quite normal in historical texts. And ditto for commerce. Clearly the puzzle setter is better read than the puzzlers.

Original poster
JMSA · 02/08/2025 18:12

They need some fresh blood for this puzzle. Someone to alternate with Wyna Liu.

OP posts:
randoname · 02/08/2025 18:06

@KingofMay @Aznavour @PestoHoliday Well I never knew!!

PestoHoliday · 02/08/2025 18:03

randoname · 02/08/2025 17:45

But what about garnish as means both as opposites?! 🫤

A garnish on someone's wages is to take away some of their wages (usually to service a debt or legal obligation) prior to the member of staff receiving it.

So a garnish is both an addition for embellishment and a subtraction (of income)

Edited to add - I got distracted while typing this and @Aznavour and @KingofMay made the same point while I was answering the door - sorry!

CraftyYankee · 02/08/2025 17:59

I am an American and commerce is not used at all afaik. The Herodotus info is enlightening!

Waitingfordoggo · 02/08/2025 17:55

I’m not sure I’ve heard it in real life, but it seemed to be the only one that made sense so I guessed and actually that was the first group I got. I crashed out anyway because couldn’t get two of the groups- the word related and sport related ones.

KingofMay · 02/08/2025 17:54

randoname · 02/08/2025 17:45

But what about garnish as means both as opposites?! 🫤

Garnish- add something as a decoration OR Garnish someone’s wages means to take something away.
It’s on days like this I swear I’m not playing connections anymore but I’ll be back tomorrow for more torture I’m sure.

Aznavour · 02/08/2025 17:53

randoname · 02/08/2025 17:45

But what about garnish as means both as opposites?! 🫤

Garnish can mean to add something (like adding parsley to a salad) or to take something away (e.g., to garnish someone's wages).

Chompingatthebeat · 02/08/2025 17:53

Dogsrbrill · 02/08/2025 17:52

Prostitution?

Well quite

Dogsrbrill · 02/08/2025 17:53

Stupid words today

Dogsrbrill · 02/08/2025 17:52

Prostitution?

PestoHoliday · 02/08/2025 17:52

I was shouting at the App this morning as well. 'Commerce', my aunt Fanny. Pfft.

Aznavour · 02/08/2025 17:51

Congress, yes. But I was scratching my head at commerce!

Chompingatthebeat · 02/08/2025 17:49

DonnaBanana · 02/08/2025 15:59

Commerce isn’t American, it’s from Herodotus. Did none of you take classics?

”and over their maidens they do not keep watch, but allow them to have commerce with whatever men they please”

I did not know this, but worked it out anyway as seemed logical as sex has been highly transactional throughout history

randoname · 02/08/2025 17:45

But what about garnish as means both as opposites?! 🫤

WiddlinDiddlin · 02/08/2025 17:42

No, that threw me as well, congress, yes, but commerce, no!

Original poster
JMSA · 02/08/2025 17:40

MasterBeth · 02/08/2025 16:09

Sorry not to have had a fancy edukayshun like what you did.

Edited
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😂

OP posts:
Rentitis · 02/08/2025 16:18

Congress was in fairly common use in the past.

I remember that generating a lot of mirth in school discussions on the Congress of Vienna following a class trip there.

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