Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into lively wordplay, familiar trivia, and a neatly linked phrase running through the grid. Settle in for a friendly solve with several satisfying clicks.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, offering a mid-size grid that takes a few satisfying minutes to clear. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime.
New puzzles drop daily. The Midi offers more complexity than the Mini while remaining accessible for solvers who want a quick but substantial challenge.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 10x11
Total Clues: 36 (16 Across, 20 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 25A is the trickiest clue, because “supportive articles” disguises a practical piece of running gear as something written.
Gimme Clue: 4A is the clearest gimme, since a basic chemistry fact produces an immediate, unambiguous fill.
Theme Spotted: "Taking Care of Business"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Concealed
Hint: Think of the past tense for keeping something out of sight. Three letters, starts with H.
4A. Helium's atomic number
Hint: Look to the periodic table and count the protons in helium. Three letters, starts with T.
7A. ___ Dhabi
Hint: Supply the first half of the United Arab Emirates capital's name. Three letters, starts with A.
8A. Pop singer Rita
Hint: The clue wants the surname of the British singer named Rita. Three letters, starts with O.
9A. Iconic bandmate of Keith Richards
Hint: Picture the longtime Rolling Stones frontman beside Keith Richards. Ten letters, starts with M.
14A. Horse on many a stud farm
Hint: This is an uncastrated adult male horse used for breeding. Eight letters, starts with S.
15A. Apt rhyme with "groan"
Hint: Seek a complaint-like sound that pairs naturally with “groan.” Four letters, starts with M.
16A. Actress Jessica of "Sin City"
Hint: The clue asks for Jessica's surname from the cast of “Sin City.” Four letters, starts with A.
19A. Large amount
Hint: Use a noun meaning a great quantity or multitude. Four letters, starts with S.
23A. What a man walks into, in many a joke setup
Hint: Recall the classic joke opening in which someone enters a drinking establishment. Three letters, starts with B.
24A. "Either ___!" (geologist's punny response when asked their preference between hematite and carbonate)
Hint: Hear this as “either option,” then switch to what a geologist extracts from rock. Three letters, starts with O.
25A. Supportive articles on a run, perhaps
Hint: Interpret “articles” as wearable items that provide support during exercise. Ten letters, starts with S.
30A. Part of an idiom hinted at by 2-/5-Down
Hint: Use the pair of avian entries referenced by the clue to recover the opening portion of a familiar efficiency idiom. Eight letters, starts with T.
31A. Part of an idiom hinted at by 9-Across
Hint: Complete the efficiency idiom whose opening portion appears directly above. Eight letters, starts with O.
32A. Afterthoughts in some letters: Abbr.
Hint: Think of abbreviated notes appended after a letter has formally ended. Three letters, starts with P.
33A. Cry for help, at sea
Hint: Enter the internationally recognized maritime distress signal. Three letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Oft-glazed holiday meat
Hint: Picture the centerpiece of a holiday meal under a shiny glaze. Three letters, starts with H.
2D. Tall avian wader
Hint: Look for a long-legged wading bird with a slender, curved bill. Four letters, starts with I.
3D. ___ tape
Hint: Complete the name of the famously strong silver repair tape. Four letters, starts with D.
4D. Like a takeout order
Hint: Use the phrase printed on an order meant to leave the restaurant. Four letters, starts with T.
5D. Small avian singer
Hint: Think of a tiny brown songbird whose name begins with a silent consonant. Four letters, starts with W.
6D. "Either ___!" (rower's punny response when asked their preference between wood and carbon fiber)
Hint: Hear “either option” aloud, then name the implement a rower holds. Three letters, starts with O.
10D. ___ Sutra
Hint: Supply the first word in the title of the ancient Sanskrit text on intimacy. Four letters, starts with K.
11D. Singer nicknamed "Jenny From the Block"
Hint: Use the compact stage nickname associated with “Jenny From the Block.” Three letters, starts with J.
12D. ___ carte
Hint: Complete the French menu phrase for ordering individual dishes. Three letters, starts with A.
13D. Spirits used to make Negronis
Hint: Name the plural base spirit traditionally paired with vermouth and Campari in this cocktail. Four letters, starts with G.
16D. Crunch targets
Hint: Crunches are designed to work these abdominal muscles. Three letters, starts with A.
17D. Computer that fits in a backpack
Hint: Think of a portable computer with a hinged screen and keyboard. Six letters, starts with L.
18D. Cleveland football team
Hint: Use the nickname of Cleveland's NFL franchise. Six letters, starts with B.
20D. "Oh God, this can't be ..."
Hint: Finish the horrified exclamation with a direct refusal. Six letters, starts with L.
21D. Rubs out, as a smudge mark
Hint: Choose the verb for removing marks by rubbing them away. Six letters, starts with E.
22D. Director Craven
Hint: The clue seeks the first name of the director behind “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Three letters, starts with W.
26D. Fish egg delicacies
Hint: Think of delicacies made from fish eggs, expressed in the plural. Four letters, starts with R.
27D. Network that aired "American Dad!"
Hint: Recall the cable network whose initials stand for Turner Broadcasting System. Three letters, starts with T.
28D. What a well-trained dog might do for treats
Hint: Picture the basic command that puts a trained dog on its haunches. Three letters, starts with S.
29D. Dudes
Hint: Use a casual shortened term for male friends or siblings. Four letters, starts with B.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Concealed
Answer: HID
4A. Helium's atomic number
Answer: TWO
7A. ___ Dhabi
Answer: ABU
8A. Pop singer Rita
Answer: ORA
9A. Iconic bandmate of Keith Richards
Answer: MICKJAGGER
14A. Horse on many a stud farm
Answer: STALLION
15A. Apt rhyme with "groan"
Answer: MOAN
16A. Actress Jessica of "Sin City"
Answer: ALBA
19A. Large amount
Answer: SLEW
23A. What a man walks into, in many a joke setup
Answer: BAR
24A. "Either ___!" (geologist's punny response when asked their preference between hematite and carbonate)
Answer: ORE
25A. Supportive articles on a run, perhaps
Answer: SPORTSBRAS
30A. Part of an idiom hinted at by 2-/5-Down
Answer: TWOBIRDS
31A. Part of an idiom hinted at by 9-Across
Answer: ONESTONE
32A. Afterthoughts in some letters: Abbr.
Answer: PSS
33A. Cry for help, at sea
Answer: SOS
Down Answers
1D. Oft-glazed holiday meat
Answer: HAM
2D. Tall avian wader
Answer: IBIS
3D. ___ tape
Answer: DUCT
4D. Like a takeout order
Answer: TOGO
5D. Small avian singer
Answer: WREN
6D. "Either ___!" (rower's punny response when asked their preference between wood and carbon fiber)
Answer: OAR
10D. ___ Sutra
Answer: KAMA
11D. Singer nicknamed "Jenny From the Block"
Answer: JLO
12D. ___ carte
Answer: ALA
13D. Spirits used to make Negronis
Answer: GINS
16D. Crunch targets
Answer: ABS
17D. Computer that fits in a backpack
Answer: LAPTOP
18D. Cleveland football team
Answer: BROWNS
20D. "Oh God, this can't be ..."
Answer: LORDNO
21D. Rubs out, as a smudge mark
Answer: ERASES
22D. Director Craven
Answer: WES
26D. Fish egg delicacies
Answer: ROES
27D. Network that aired "American Dad!"
Answer: TBS
28D. What a well-trained dog might do for treats
Answer: SIT
29D. Dudes
Answer: BROS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 30A TWOBIRDS and 31A ONESTONE define the puzzle by completing “kill two birds with one stone,” while 2D IBIS, 5D WREN, and 9A MICK JAGGER supply playful literal hints for its key nouns. The linked structure turns familiar trivia into a clean thematic payoff.
Wordplay Winner: 25A SPORTS BRAS wins the wordplay prize. “Supportive articles” describes garments rather than written pieces, while “on a run” places them in their natural athletic setting.
Quick Fill: 4A TWO is the fastest confident fill because helium's atomic number is fixed, and its letters immediately support 4D TOGO, 5D WREN, and 6D OAR.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank exact facts first. TWO, ABU, SOS, and TBS require little interpretation and provide dependable crossings for more playful clues.
When a clue sounds oddly elaborate, test it aloud. ORE and OAR both convert “either” into a profession-specific pun, while SPORTS BRAS depends on shifting “articles” from writing to clothing.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, offering crisp trivia around a playful thematic center. SPORTS BRAS delivered the sharpest laugh, and TWOBIRDS with ONESTONE supplied the satisfying finish.
See you at the next grid.
