Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into conversational clueing, compact trivia, and linked puns built from everyday speech. Settle in for a grid with a playful center and crisp crossings.
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: 10x9
Total Clues: 31 (14 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 12A is the trickiest clue, since its grilling surface conceals both a slang reading and a familiar toy reference.
Gimme Clue: 10A is the cleanest gimme, because Wild Draw Four points directly to a specific card game.
Theme Spotted: "Land of Oz"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. "Naughty, naughty"
Hint: Hear the little tongue-click used to express mild disapproval. Three letters, starts with T.
4A. Actress Milano of "Who's the Boss?"
Hint: Think of the actor who played Samantha Micelli on the sitcom named in the clue. Six letters, starts with A.
10A. Game with Wild Draw Four cards
Hint: Name the Mattel card game in which a Wild Draw Four can change the color and penalize the next player. Three letters, starts with U.
11A. Deadly
Hint: The clue wants an adjective meaning capable of causing death. Six letters, starts with L.
12A. Cutie pie who grills sausages and steaks in 21-Across?
Hint: Read “grills” as cooking outdoors, then connect “cutie pie” with a famous fashion toy. The revealer's national slang binds those readings together. Ten letters, starts with B.
14A. Off over yonder
Hint: Look for a compact expression meaning at a great distance. Four letters, starts with A.
15A. A.C.C. school in Charlottesville
Hint: The target is the Charlottesville public university represented by an initialism in athletics. Three letters, starts with U.
16A. Washing machine setting at a college in 21-Across?
Hint: Split the target into Australian campus shorthand and a washing-machine program. Eight letters, starts with U.
20A. Knight's horse
Hint: Use the elevated storybook term for a knight's mount. Five letters, starts with S.
21A. Country known for shortening everyday words ... as hinted at in 12- and 16-Across?
Hint: The target is the country whose informal vocabulary supplies the shortened terms behind 12A and 16A. Nine letters, starts with A.
25A. "You know the ___!"
Hint: Complete the stock expression meaning that the familiar procedure needs no explanation. Five letters, starts with D.
26A. Protein-rich ramen topper
Hint: Picture the protein-rich ramen topping commonly served soft-boiled and sliced. Three letters, starts with E.
27A. Building add-on
Hint: Think of an extra wing or section attached to an existing building. Five letters, starts with A.
28A. Ghost sound
Hint: Supply the theatrical exclamation traditionally assigned to a ghost. Three letters, starts with B.
Down Hints
1D. Low-pitched brass instrument
Hint: Picture the large coiled brass instrument that supplies an ensemble's deepest brass voice. Four letters, starts with T.
2D. Big mix-up
Hint: The target is a military-born acronym now used for a chaotic mix-up. Five letters, starts with S.
3D. Muslim's holy book, in one spelling
Hint: Think of Islam's sacred scripture, using the older English transliteration requested by the clue. Five letters, starts with K.
4D. Actress Wong
Hint: Think of the comedian and actor who starred in the television series Beef. Three letters, starts with A.
5D. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Sunisa ___
Hint: Complete the name of American gymnast Sunisa, an Olympic all-around champion. Three letters, starts with L.
6D. Since Jan. 1, on pay stubs
Hint: Pay stubs use this abbreviation for the cumulative amount recorded since Jan. 1. Three letters, starts with Y.
7D. "Want me to leave?"
Hint: Phrase the natural question asked when checking whether your presence is still wanted. Nine letters, starts with S.
8D. Rash soother
Hint: Think of a soothing medicated ointment applied directly to irritated skin. Five letters, starts with S.
9D. Penne ___ vodka
Hint: Supply the Italian linking words in the pasta dish named for vodka. Four letters, starts with A.
13D. Prickly part of a brush
Hint: Focus on the stiff hair or fiber projecting from a brush head. Seven letters, starts with B.
17D. PC command for "cut"
Hint: Pair the standard control modifier with the keyboard key assigned to cutting. Five letters, starts with C.
18D. Vote in favor
Hint: Use the traditional affirmative term heard in a formal vote. Three letters, starts with Y.
19D. One photographed on the red carpet, informally
Hint: The clue wants an informal label for a famous person photographed on a red carpet. Five letters, starts with C.
21D. Best-selling children's book "___ Twist, Scientist"
Hint: Recall Andrea Beaty's picture book about a curious child scientist whose surname is Twist. Three letters, starts with A.
22D. Still-life vessel
Hint: Picture a classical decorative vessel used in floral still-life arrangements. Three letters, starts with U.
23D. Pride, greed or envy
Hint: Pride, greed, and envy are each classified as this kind of moral transgression. Three letters, starts with S.
24D. Prior to now
Hint: Use the compact time word that follows “years” in backward-looking phrases. Three letters, starts with A.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. "Naughty, naughty"
Answer: TSK
4A. Actress Milano of "Who's the Boss?"
Answer: ALYSSA
10A. Game with Wild Draw Four cards
Answer: UNO
11A. Deadly
Answer: LETHAL
12A. Cutie pie who grills sausages and steaks in 21-Across?
Answer: BARBIEDOLL
14A. Off over yonder
Answer: AFAR
15A. A.C.C. school in Charlottesville
Answer: UVA
16A. Washing machine setting at a college in 21-Across?
Answer: UNICYCLE
20A. Knight's horse
Answer: STEED
21A. Country known for shortening everyday words ... as hinted at in 12- and 16-Across?
Answer: AUSTRALIA
25A. "You know the ___!"
Answer: DRILL
26A. Protein-rich ramen topper
Answer: EGG
27A. Building add-on
Answer: ANNEX
28A. Ghost sound
Answer: BOO
Down Answers
1D. Low-pitched brass instrument
Answer: TUBA
2D. Big mix-up
Answer: SNAFU
3D. Muslim's holy book, in one spelling
Answer: KORAN
4D. Actress Wong
Answer: ALI
5D. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Sunisa ___
Answer: LEE
6D. Since Jan. 1, on pay stubs
Answer: YTD
7D. "Want me to leave?"
Answer: SHOULDIGO
8D. Rash soother
Answer: SALVE
9D. Penne ___ vodka
Answer: ALLA
13D. Prickly part of a brush
Answer: BRISTLE
17D. PC command for "cut"
Answer: CTRLX
18D. Vote in favor
Answer: YEA
19D. One photographed on the red carpet, informally
Answer: CELEB
21D. Best-selling children's book "___ Twist, Scientist"
Answer: ADA
22D. Still-life vessel
Answer: URN
23D. Pride, greed or envy
Answer: SIN
24D. Prior to now
Answer: AGO
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 12A, BARBIEDOLL, defines the puzzle. “Barbie” works as Australian slang for a barbecue, while BARBIE DOLL answers the clue's “cutie pie,” turning an ordinary toy phrase into a miniature scene at the grill.
Wordplay Winner: 16A, UNICYCLE, wins the wordplay prize. The familiar vehicle is resegmented as “uni cycle,” an Australian university shorthand followed by a washing-machine setting.
Quick Fill: UNO is the fastest confident fill because Wild Draw Four identifies the game cleanly. Its letters immediately steady TUBA, SNAFU, and KORAN at the crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When linked clues look absurd literally, solve the revealer before forcing them. AUSTRALIA unlocks BARBIEDOLL and UNICYCLE by signaling that familiar words need Australian shortened readings.
Bank exact trivia and fixed phrases early. UNO, UVA, DRILL, and EGG create reliable crossing letters for the longer entries and the compact proper names.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, placing clean trivia and familiar vocabulary around its playful middle. BARBIEDOLL supplied the sharpest laugh, while UNICYCLE confirmed the constructor's split-reading trick.
See you at the next grid.
