Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into famous-name wordplay, crisp trivia, and several satisfyingly long phrases. Settle in and enjoy the playful clueing.
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: 29 (12 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 14A is the trickiest clue because its stage-name joke and alternate reading of “wrap” have to click together.
Gimme Clue: 12A is the clearest gimme, since the familiar federal intelligence abbreviation leaves little room for doubt.
Theme Spotted: "Elvis Has Left the Building"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Cold treat on a stick
Hint: Picture a brightly flavored frozen treat with a wooden handle. Six letters, starts with I.
7A. Singer Johnny's last words before leaving Folsom Prison?
Hint: Use the singer’s famous surname as the first half of a phrase for collecting winnings and leaving. Seven letters, starts with C.
9A. Like a child stretching to see flavors at an ice cream shop, maybe
Hint: Picture the elevated posture a child adopts when trying to see over a counter. Nine letters, starts with O.
12A. U.S. intelligence org.
Hint: Think of the federal agency associated with signals intelligence and cryptography. Three letters, starts with N.
13A. Level of a cake
Hint: The clue wants one horizontal layer in a stacked cake. Four letters, starts with T.
14A. Rapper Cardi calls it a wrap?
Hint: Join the rapper’s stage-name initial to what a wrap might be served as. Six letters, starts with B.
16A. "That's the truth!"
Hint: Think of an emphatic oath used to insist that a statement is true. Six letters, starts with I.
19A. Musician Taylor moving on to her next era?
Hint: Combine the musician’s surname with a brisk departure. Nine letters, starts with S.
23A. Enchanted ___ Room (South Pacific-themed Disney attraction)
Hint: The blank takes the Polynesian-inspired style associated with carved figures and tropical décor. Four letters, starts with T.
24A. Game before a final
Hint: Think of the elimination-round game that determines who reaches the championship matchup. Four letters, starts with S.
25A. Leave out
Hint: Look for a verb meaning to exclude something deliberately. Four letters, starts with O.
26A. "___: Ares" (2025 sci-fi sequel)
Hint: Recall the digital-world Disney franchise whose name precedes the subtitle “Ares.” Four letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1D. One of many on a smartphone home screen
Hint: Think of a small tappable symbol that opens an app. Four letters, starts with I.
2D. Tuna fish containers
Hint: Picture the metal grocery-store vessels commonly used to package tuna. Four letters, starts with C.
3D. "Dónde ___ la biblioteca?"
Hint: Conjugate the Spanish verb for being or location to agree with the library. Four letters, starts with E.
4D. The Eagles, on sports tickers
Hint: Use the standard sports-ticker abbreviation for Philadelphia. Three letters, starts with P.
5D. Alley-___
Hint: Complete the basketball term for a lob finished near the rim. Three letters, starts with O.
6D. Finally close the book on
Hint: The clue points to an idiom for resolving a matter permanently. Nine letters, starts with P.
8D. Work like a dog
Hint: Look for a verb describing prolonged, exhausting labor. Four letters, starts with T.
10D. Wriggly swimmer
Hint: Picture a long, snake-shaped fish moving through the water. Three letters, starts with E.
11D. Typical Ditch Day participants: Abbr.
Hint: The abbreviation refers to students nearest graduation who traditionally take part in Ditch Day. Three letters, starts with S.
14D. Seem suitable for
Hint: Find a verb meaning to suit or be appropriate for someone or something. Five letters, starts with B.
15D. ___ race (corporate grind)
Hint: A small rodent completes the familiar phrase for relentless corporate competition. Three letters, starts with R.
16D. "That ___ be expected"
Hint: Supply the linking words that turn the fragment into a familiar statement about expectations. Four letters, starts with I.
17D. Go for a dip
Hint: Think of entering the water for exercise or leisure. Four letters, starts with S.
18D. User-edited website
Hint: The clue describes a collaboratively editable knowledge website. Four letters, starts with W.
20D. Gen ___ (Zoomer's parent, perhaps)
Hint: Fill in the generation label positioned between Baby Boomers and Millennials. Three letters, starts with X.
21D. "For me ...," in a text
Hint: Use the common texting initialism that introduces a personal opinion. Three letters, starts with I.
22D. Sturdy container for mints
Hint: Picture the small, sturdy metal box often used for breath mints. Three letters, starts with T.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Cold treat on a stick
Answer: ICEPOP
7A. Singer Johnny's last words before leaving Folsom Prison?
Answer: CASHOUT
9A. Like a child stretching to see flavors at an ice cream shop, maybe
Answer: ONTIPTOES
12A. U.S. intelligence org.
Answer: NSA
13A. Level of a cake
Answer: TIER
14A. Rapper Cardi calls it a wrap?
Answer: BROLLS
16A. "That's the truth!"
Answer: ISWEAR
19A. Musician Taylor moving on to her next era?
Answer: SWIFTEXIT
23A. Enchanted ___ Room (South Pacific-themed Disney attraction)
Answer: TIKI
24A. Game before a final
Answer: SEMI
25A. Leave out
Answer: OMIT
26A. "___: Ares" (2025 sci-fi sequel)
Answer: TRON
Down Answers
1D. One of many on a smartphone home screen
Answer: ICON
2D. Tuna fish containers
Answer: CANS
3D. "Dónde ___ la biblioteca?"
Answer: ESTA
4D. The Eagles, on sports tickers
Answer: PHI
5D. Alley-___
Answer: OOP
6D. Finally close the book on
Answer: PUTTOREST
8D. Work like a dog
Answer: TOIL
10D. Wriggly swimmer
Answer: EEL
11D. Typical Ditch Day participants: Abbr.
Answer: SRS
14D. Seem suitable for
Answer: BEFIT
15D. ___ race (corporate grind)
Answer: RAT
16D. "That ___ be expected"
Answer: ISTO
17D. Go for a dip
Answer: SWIM
18D. User-edited website
Answer: WIKI
20D. Gen ___ (Zoomer's parent, perhaps)
Answer: XER
21D. "For me ...," in a text
Answer: IMO
22D. Sturdy container for mints
Answer: TIN
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 19A, “Musician Taylor moving on to her next era?”, lands on SWIFT EXIT. Taylor Swift’s surname becomes an adjective describing a quick departure, neatly joining celebrity trivia and ordinary phrasing.
Wordplay Winner: CASH OUT at 7A is the wordplay winner. Johnny Cash supplies the first word, while “out” captures both leaving prison and being free of it.
Quick Fill: NSA at 12A was the fastest confident fill. Its crossings with ICON, CANS, and ESTA settle the northwest corner immediately.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank the short literal entries first, especially NSA, OOP, and EEL, then use their letters to attack the longer phrases.
When a celebrity clue ends with a question mark, split the star’s name from the surrounding action. That move unlocks CASH OUT, B ROLLS, and SWIFT EXIT without forcing obscure trivia.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, offering sturdy short fill around playful celebrity puns. SWIFT EXIT gave the finish its sharpest smile.
See you at the next grid.
