Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and pasta-flavored charades give the grid a playful center, surrounded by accessible trivia and crisp wordplay. Settle in for a satisfying mix of quick wins and clever connections.
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 (13 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 11A is the trickiest clue because it asks you to translate one term, reinterpret another, and combine the results into a familiar trick.
Gimme Clue: 12A is the clearest gimme, with a direct definition pointing to what remains after a campfire burns down.
Theme Spotted: "Carbo Loading"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Your response (hopefully) to the question "Who knows the answer to 1-Across?"
Hint: Picture a volunteer raising a hand and confidently claiming knowledge. Three letters, starts with I.
4A. Dalai ___
Hint: Complete the familiar Tibetan Buddhist honorific. Four letters, starts with L.
8A. Undeserving object of worship
Hint: Think of a worshipped figure that has not earned the devotion it receives. Nine letters, starts with F.
11A. Conchiglie + Pastime = Sleight-of-hand trick
Hint: Translate the pasta shape into plain English, then pair it with another word for a pastime. Nine letters, starts with S.
12A. Campfire residue
Hint: Look for the powdery material left among the cooling remains of a fire. Three letters, starts with A.
13A. Rigatoni + Lid = Stretchy, strapless garment
Hint: Reduce rigatoni to its basic shape, then combine that with a covering to form the strapless garment. Seven letters, starts with T.
17A. Pet hair
Hint: Think of the soft coat that sheds from many household animals. Three letters, starts with F.
18A. Journalist/podcaster Klein
Hint: The clue points to the journalist and podcast host whose last name is Klein. Four letters, starts with E.
20A. Macaroni + Hotel offering = Space to move around
Hint: Turn macaroni into a body-joint image, then combine it with what a lodging establishment rents. Nine letters, starts with E.
23A. Carne ___
Hint: Complete the familiar Spanish name for grilled beef. Five letters, starts with A.
24A. "Full Metal Jacket" setting, informally
Hint: Use the clipped slang form of the Southeast Asian country where the film is set. Three letters, starts with N.
25A. ___ Jackson, longtime judge on "American Idol"
Hint: The missing name belongs to the record producer and longtime singing-competition judge Jackson. Five letters, starts with R.
26A. Music genre rooted in hardcore punk
Hint: Think of the emotionally charged rock style that grew from hardcore punk. Three letters, starts with E.
Down Hints
1D. Hypotheticals
Hint: Think of conditional possibilities framed as hypotheticals. Three letters, starts with I.
2D. "Well, lah-di-___"
Hint: Finish the familiar sing-song phrase after “lah-di.” Three letters, starts with D.
3D. Fútbol shout
Hint: Listen for the celebratory cry associated with Spanish-language football crowds. Three letters, starts with O.
4D. A Bic that may be flicked or clicked
Hint: Name the pocket device from this brand that produces a flame. Seven letters, starts with L.
5D. Org. on toothpaste tubes
Hint: Look for the dentistry organization whose approval seal appears on oral-care products. Three letters, starts with A.
6D. Oft-repeated word from a child to a parent
Hint: Choose the short parental address a child might repeat to get attention. Three letters, starts with M.
7D. Tavern order
Hint: Think of a traditional amber malt drink ordered at a pub. Three letters, starts with A.
9D. Thick chunk
Hint: Picture a thick, flat piece cut from stone, concrete, or meat. Four letters, starts with S.
10D. "You're something ___!"
Hint: Complete the familiar compliment meaning that someone is exceptional or surprising. Four letters, starts with E.
13D. Oklahoma city on the Arkansas River
Hint: Look to the northeastern Oklahoma city situated on the Arkansas River. Five letters, starts with T.
14D. City-related
Hint: Use the adjective that contrasts with rural. Five letters, starts with U.
15D. Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays
Hint: Name the reactive atmospheric gas that helps block ultraviolet radiation. Five letters, starts with O.
16D. Charity golf event
Hint: Think of a tournament format that pairs professionals with amateurs. Five letters, starts with P.
17D. Terror
Hint: Name the emotion caused by immediate danger or a terrifying threat. Four letters, starts with F.
19D. Water balloons, for a water balloon fight
Hint: Treat the balloons as battle supplies rather than party decorations. Four letters, starts with A.
21D. Like five of the first six digits of pi
Hint: Classify five of the first six digits by parity. Three letters, starts with O.
22D. Route
Hint: Think of a path, course, or means of getting somewhere. 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. Your response (hopefully) to the question "Who knows the answer to 1-Across?"
Answer: IDO
4A. Dalai ___
Answer: LAMA
8A. Undeserving object of worship
Answer: FALSEIDOL
11A. Conchiglie + Pastime = Sleight-of-hand trick
Answer: SHELLGAME
12A. Campfire residue
Answer: ASH
13A. Rigatoni + Lid = Stretchy, strapless garment
Answer: TUBETOP
17A. Pet hair
Answer: FUR
18A. Journalist/podcaster Klein
Answer: EZRA
20A. Macaroni + Hotel offering = Space to move around
Answer: ELBOWROOM
23A. Carne ___
Answer: ASADA
24A. "Full Metal Jacket" setting, informally
Answer: NAM
25A. ___ Jackson, longtime judge on "American Idol"
Answer: RANDY
26A. Music genre rooted in hardcore punk
Answer: EMO
Down Answers
1D. Hypotheticals
Answer: IFS
2D. "Well, lah-di-___"
Answer: DAH
3D. Fútbol shout
Answer: OLE
4D. A Bic that may be flicked or clicked
Answer: LIGHTER
5D. Org. on toothpaste tubes
Answer: ADA
6D. Oft-repeated word from a child to a parent
Answer: MOM
7D. Tavern order
Answer: ALE
9D. Thick chunk
Answer: SLAB
10D. "You're something ___!"
Answer: ELSE
13D. Oklahoma city on the Arkansas River
Answer: TULSA
14D. City-related
Answer: URBAN
15D. Atmosphere layer that absorbs UV rays
Answer: OZONE
16D. Charity golf event
Answer: PROAM
17D. Terror
Answer: FEAR
19D. Water balloons, for a water balloon fight
Answer: AMMO
21D. Like five of the first six digits of pi
Answer: ODD
22D. Route
Answer: WAY
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 11A, “Conchiglie + Pastime = Sleight-of-hand trick,” defines the puzzle through SHELL GAME. Conchiglie supplies SHELL, pastime supplies GAME, and the combined phrase lands on the clue's final definition with perfect economy.
Wordplay Winner: 20A wins the wordplay prize with ELBOW ROOM. Macaroni suggests ELBOW, a hotel offering is a ROOM, and their combination becomes the familiar phrase for space to move around.
Quick Fill: ASH at 12A was the fastest confident fill because the campfire clue is completely direct. Its letters lock in SLAB, ELSE, and LIGHTER at the crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
For equation-style clues such as SHELL GAME, TUBE TOP, and ELBOW ROOM, solve each side independently before combining them. Translating the pasta term into an everyday shape makes the longer entry much faster to see.
Use direct short fills such as ASH, FUR, and EMO to stabilize the longer Down entries. Those compact answers provide dependable crossing letters without demanding much interpretation.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, offering clean trivia around a playful pasta-wordplay core. SHELL GAME captures its balance of familiar language and satisfying construction.
See you at the next grid.
