Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans on crisp trivia, conversational phrases, and a neat translation trick. Settle in for a friendly grid with a few satisfying turns.
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: 11A is the trickiest clue because its question reads naturally in English while quietly asking you to think in another language.
Gimme Clue: 12A is the clearest gimme, since the clue points directly to Harry Potter's closest male friend.
Theme Spotted: "Tea Party"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Big name in upscale coolers and coffee tumblers
Hint: Think of the rugged drinkware brand whose name evokes a mythical snow creature. Four letters, starts with Y.
5A. Yogurt container
Hint: Picture the squat plastic vessel that can hold a family-size serving of yogurt. Three letters, starts with T.
8A. Go with the flow
Hint: The phrase points to changing your approach as circumstances shift. Five letters, starts with A.
10A. Big fuss
Hint: Look for a compact word for commotion or needless fuss. Three letters, starts with A.
11A. What means a lot?
Hint: Read “means” as “translates to,” then switch from English to Spanish. Five letters, starts with M.
12A. Harry Potter's best friend
Hint: Recall Harry's red-haired Gryffindor companion from the wizarding series. Three letters, starts with R.
13A. The "TL" in TL;DR
Hint: Expand the relevant initials in the internet shorthand for skipping an excessively lengthy passage. Seven letters, starts with T.
15A. M.M.A. referee's decision
Hint: Think of the abbreviated stoppage awarded when a fighter cannot safely continue. Three letters, starts with T.
16A. Casual, crescent-shaped purse
Hint: The clue wants the fashion term for a relaxed, slouchy purse with a curved silhouette. Seven letters, starts with H.
20A. Letters before an alias
Hint: Supply the abbreviation that introduces an alternate name. Three letters, starts with A.
21A. Chambers of the heart
Hint: These are the upper receiving chambers of the heart. Five letters, starts with A.
24A. Address with slashes, for short
Hint: Use the standard abbreviation for an internet address. Three letters, starts with U.
25A. Burger King or Dairy Queen
Hint: Both named restaurants belong to the same type of multi-location business. Five letters, starts with C.
26A. Young fellow
Hint: Reach for an old-fashioned word for a young fellow. Three letters, starts with L.
27A. Enter, as data on a computer
Hint: Think of a verb phrase for inputting information with a keyboard. Five letters, starts with K.
Down Hints
1D. Sometimes-purple root vegetable
Hint: This sweet, starchy root is often confused with a sweet potato. Three letters, starts with Y.
2D. www.usc.___
Hint: The blank takes the academic top-level domain used by university websites. Three letters, starts with E.
3D. Social grace
Hint: Think of discretion and sensitivity in dealing with others. Four letters, starts with T.
4D. Discontinued Apple app for pictures
Hint: Recall Apple's retired desktop photo-management application, which preceded Photos. Six letters, starts with I.
5D. Purple-flecked root vegetable
Hint: This tropical corm is used in poi and can show purple flecks inside. Four letters, starts with T.
6D. Chewy Japanese noodle
Hint: Picture the thick wheat noodle served in Japanese soups and stir-fries. Four letters, starts with U.
7D. Smoke shop buy
Hint: The smoke-shop item is a water pipe associated with cannabis use. Four letters, starts with B.
9D. Rescinded
Hint: Use a past-tense phrase for rescinding a statement, offer, or item previously given. Eight letters, starts with T.
14D. Despise
Hint: The target is a strong verb meaning to hate intensely. Six letters, starts with L.
16D. ___ video (online posting after a shopping spree)
Hint: Supply the shopping-related noun paired with “video” for a post-spree showcase. Four letters, starts with H.
17D. Vegetable in Creole cooking
Hint: Think of the green, ridged pod strongly associated with gumbo. Four letters, starts with O.
18D. Like George Costanza or Walter White
Hint: The two television characters share a lack of hair on the scalp. Four letters, starts with B.
19D. Like the skies in Seattle, much of the year
Hint: Choose the overcast color between black and white. Four letters, starts with G.
22D. Three on some clocks
Hint: Enter the Roman-numeral representation shown at the clock position named in the clue. Three letters, starts with I.
23D. ___ Arbor, Mich.
Hint: Think of the Michigan university city, then supply the word before “Arbor.” 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. Big name in upscale coolers and coffee tumblers
Answer: YETI
5A. Yogurt container
Answer: TUB
8A. Go with the flow
Answer: ADAPT
10A. Big fuss
Answer: ADO
11A. What means a lot?
Answer: MUCHO
12A. Harry Potter's best friend
Answer: RON
13A. The "TL" in TL;DR
Answer: TOOLONG
15A. M.M.A. referee's decision
Answer: TKO
16A. Casual, crescent-shaped purse
Answer: HOBOBAG
20A. Letters before an alias
Answer: AKA
21A. Chambers of the heart
Answer: ATRIA
24A. Address with slashes, for short
Answer: URL
25A. Burger King or Dairy Queen
Answer: CHAIN
26A. Young fellow
Answer: LAD
27A. Enter, as data on a computer
Answer: KEYIN
Down Answers
1D. Sometimes-purple root vegetable
Answer: YAM
2D. www.usc.___
Answer: EDU
3D. Social grace
Answer: TACT
4D. Discontinued Apple app for pictures
Answer: IPHOTO
5D. Purple-flecked root vegetable
Answer: TARO
6D. Chewy Japanese noodle
Answer: UDON
7D. Smoke shop buy
Answer: BONG
9D. Rescinded
Answer: TOOKBACK
14D. Despise
Answer: LOATHE
16D. ___ video (online posting after a shopping spree)
Answer: HAUL
17D. Vegetable in Creole cooking
Answer: OKRA
18D. Like George Costanza or Walter White
Answer: BALD
19D. Like the skies in Seattle, much of the year
Answer: GRAY
22D. Three on some clocks
Answer: III
23D. ___ Arbor, Mich.
Answer: ANN
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 11A, “What means a lot?”, lands on MUCHO. The clue turns “means” into a translation prompt, so the Spanish word for “a lot” answers a question that initially sounds like an English definition.
Wordplay Winner: 13A wins the wordplay prize with TOOLONG. The clue expands the “TL” in “TL;DR” literally, converting familiar internet shorthand into a clean entry.
Quick Fill: RON at 12A is the fastest confident fill because the Harry Potter reference is direct. Its letters immediately support TARO, UDON, and BONG in the upper-right crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank the short abbreviations early. AKA, URL, TKO, EDU, and III supply useful crossing letters without demanding extended interpretation.
When a clue reads oddly, test whether one word is acting as an instruction. That move unlocks MUCHO at 11A, while expanding internet shorthand reveals TOOLONG at 13A.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers fairly, balancing direct anchors with a few sharper interpretive turns. MUCHO supplied the day's cleanest spark.
See you at the next grid.
