Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and familiar references conceal a tidy construction trick. Come on in and enjoy the clues.
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: 9x9
Total Clues: 30 (15 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13A is the trickiest, since its exclamation leaves room for several plausible expressions of dismay.
Gimme Clue: 7D is the clearest gimme, with a familiar plant name completing the phrase.
Theme Spotted: "I A-M-A-ME-RI-CA"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Prep, as Thanksgiving potatoes
Hint: Think of crushing the cooked potatoes into a soft consistency. Four letters, starts with M.
5A. Unwanted email from a bot
Hint: Your inbox filter tries to catch this unsolicited junk. Four letters, starts with S.
9A. Jet black
Hint: Think of a darkness resembling spilled pen fluid. Four letters, starts with I.
10A. Folk story
Hint: Think of a narrative passed down through oral tradition. Four letters, starts with T.
11A. Button clicked to bypass ads on YouTube videos
Hint: This control takes you past the commercial and into the video. Four letters, starts with S.
12A. "I get that ___"
Hint: The speaker means that the comment sounds very familiar. Four letters, starts with A.
13A. "Good grief!"
Hint: Think of a gently old-fashioned expression of dismay. Eight letters, starts with O.
15A. Animal in a 2007 Pixar film
Hint: Think of the tiny chef with whiskers. Three letters, starts with R.
16A. Appetizer made with squid
Hint: Picture fried seafood rings served with a dipping sauce. Eight letters, starts with C.
21A. Often-spotty hotel amenity
Hint: Think of the wireless connection you check after reaching your room. Four letters, starts with W.
22A. "Zounds!"
Hint: An antique-sounding cry of surprise fits the tone. Four letters, starts with E.
23A. Merit
Hint: Read the clue as a verb meaning to deserve through effort or conduct. Four letters, starts with E.
24A. Clownfish in a 2003 Pixar film
Hint: Think of Marlin's missing son. Four letters, starts with N.
25A. Reserve, as a hotel room
Hint: Think of securing your room before you travel. Four letters, starts with B.
26A. Mail org. whose two-letter abbreviations are used to spell 9-, 13-, 16- and 24-Across
Hint: Use the delivery agency's initials, then revisit the linked clues. Four letters, starts with U.
Down Hints
1D. Japanese soup
Hint: Think of a savory broth flavored with fermented soybean paste. Four letters, starts with M.
2D. Egyptian symbol known as the "key of life"
Hint: Picture a cross topped with a loop. Four letters, starts with A.
3D. Lose traction
Hint: Think of tires sliding instead of gripping the road. Four letters, starts with S.
4D. Clickable text in a news article
Hint: This text takes you to another page when clicked. Nine letters, starts with H.
5D. Where "Sleep" and "Shut down" actions are found on a Windows PC
Hint: Think of the Windows panel opened through its logo button, where power options appear. Nine letters, starts with S.
6D. Holder of a hidden quarter, perhaps
Hint: Picture where a magician conceals a coin inside a hand. Four letters, starts with P.
7D. ___ vera
Hint: Think of the succulent associated with soothing skin gels. Four letters, starts with A.
8D. Rendezvoused with
Hint: Use the simple past-tense verb for coming together by arrangement. Three letters, starts with M.
14D. Small battery size
Hint: Think of the slender cylindrical battery used in compact remotes. Three letters, starts with A.
16D. Farewell pronounced like "chow"
Hint: Think of an informal Italian goodbye. Four letters, starts with C.
17D. Natural hairstyle
Hint: Picture tightly curled hair worn in a rounded silhouette. Four letters, starts with A.
18D. Gets on in years
Hint: The clue describes growing older. Four letters, starts with A.
19D. Wheelchair-accessible incline
Hint: Think of the sloping route that provides an alternative to stairs. Four letters, starts with R.
20D. Words exchanged at a wedding
Hint: Think of the spoken affirmations each partner gives during the ceremony. Four letters, starts with I.
21D. "Charlotte's ___"
Hint: Think of E. B. White's story about a pig and a spider. Three letters, starts with W.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Prep, as Thanksgiving potatoes
Answer: MASH
5A. Unwanted email from a bot
Answer: SPAM
9A. Jet black
Answer: INKY
10A. Folk story
Answer: TALE
11A. Button clicked to bypass ads on YouTube videos
Answer: SKIP
12A. "I get that ___"
Answer: ALOT
13A. "Good grief!"
Answer: OHDEARME
15A. Animal in a 2007 Pixar film
Answer: RAT
16A. Appetizer made with squid
Answer: CALAMARI
21A. Often-spotty hotel amenity
Answer: WIFI
22A. "Zounds!"
Answer: EGAD
23A. Merit
Answer: EARN
24A. Clownfish in a 2003 Pixar film
Answer: NEMO
25A. Reserve, as a hotel room
Answer: BOOK
26A. Mail org. whose two-letter abbreviations are used to spell 9-, 13-, 16- and 24-Across
Answer: USPS
Down Answers
1D. Japanese soup
Answer: MISO
2D. Egyptian symbol known as the "key of life"
Answer: ANKH
3D. Lose traction
Answer: SKID
4D. Clickable text in a news article
Answer: HYPERLINK
5D. Where "Sleep" and "Shut down" actions are found on a Windows PC
Answer: STARTMENU
6D. Holder of a hidden quarter, perhaps
Answer: PALM
7D. ___ vera
Answer: ALOE
8D. Rendezvoused with
Answer: MET
14D. Small battery size
Answer: AAA
16D. Farewell pronounced like "chow"
Answer: CIAO
17D. Natural hairstyle
Answer: AFRO
18D. Gets on in years
Answer: AGES
19D. Wheelchair-accessible incline
Answer: RAMP
20D. Words exchanged at a wedding
Answer: IDOS
21D. "Charlotte's ___"
Answer: WEB
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 26A's mail-organization clue, answered by USPS, defines the puzzle by turning ordinary fills into strings of state postal abbreviations. IN-KY, OH-DE-AR-ME, CA-LA-MA-RI and NE-MO give INKY, OH DEAR ME, CALAMARI and NEMO a satisfying second reading.
Wordplay Winner: 6D's hidden-quarter clue earns the wordplay nod with PALM. The holder is part of a hand, and the quarter is a coin concealed there.
Quick Fill: ALOE at 7D is the fastest confident fill, thanks to the familiar phrase aloe vera. It anchors the upper-right corner through SPAM, TALE, A LOT and OH DEAR ME.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Fill fixed phrases such as ALOE vera before choosing among exclamations. Crossing letters help distinguish OH DEAR ME from other reactions that fit the tone of 13A.
Read a clue with cross-references as soon as you encounter it. Here, USPS supplies a construction check for INKY, OH DEAR ME, CALAMARI and NEMO, giving you another way to confirm uncertain letters.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid offers approachable clues with a satisfying extra layer. CALAMARI is a highlight, an ordinary appetizer whose spelling becomes part of the payoff.
See you at the next grid.