Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and familiar references meet compact misdirection in today's grid. 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: 32 (17 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 6D is the trickiest, because the clue warns that the color's name can steer your mental swatch in the wrong direction.
Gimme Clue: 19A is the gimme, with a specific cooking technique pointing directly to its distinctive pan.
Theme Spotted: "Stay in Line!"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Cry like a baby
Hint: Think of loud, unrestrained sobbing. Four letters, starts with B.
5A. Topic of a children's song with the lyric "Next time won't you sing with me?"
Hint: The song teaches the basic symbols used in reading. Four letters, starts with A.
9A. Long (for)
Hint: Think of yearning so intensely that it feels physical. Four letters, starts with A.
10A. Gazpacho or garbure
Hint: These dishes belong in a bowl and are eaten with a spoon. Four letters, starts with S.
11A. Common attire for a Secret Service agent
Hint: Picture a coordinated jacket and trousers. Four letters, starts with S.
12A. Samberg of "7 Days in Hell"
Hint: Think of the comedian from The Lonely Island. Four letters, starts with A.
13A. "To ___ is human; to forgive, divine"
Hint: The missing verb means to make a mistake. Three letters, starts with E.
14A. Commercial ending with Gator
Hint: Complete the sports drink brand suggested by the clue. Three letters, starts with A.
15A. Sets aside for a rainy day
Hint: Think of storing money for future needs rather than spending it now. Nine letters, starts with S.
19A. Stir-frying pan
Hint: Picture a deep, rounded cooking vessel used over high heat. Three letters, starts with W.
20A. "___ boy!"
Hint: Hear the exclamation someone makes when a situation looks overwhelming. Three letters, starts with H.
21A. Comedic sketch
Hint: Think of a short comic scene performed by actors. Four letters, starts with S.
23A. Well-ventilated
Hint: Picture a room with open windows and a fresh breeze. Four letters, starts with A.
24A. Norway ___ (state tree of Minnesota)
Hint: Look for a cone-bearing evergreen with needles. Four letters, starts with P.
25A. Palindromic man's name
Hint: The name reads identically forward and backward. Four letters, starts with O.
26A. Counts on one's fingers, say
Hint: Think of combining amounts to find a total. Four letters, starts with A.
27A. Actress/singer Salonga
Hint: Think of the performer associated with Kim in Miss Saigon. Three letters, starts with L.
Down Hints
1D. Diamond quartet
Hint: Move your thinking from jewelry to a baseball field. Five letters, starts with B.
2D. Luxury brand of Honda
Hint: Think of the car marque whose emblem resembles a stylized caliper. Five letters, starts with A.
3D. Action-packed and exhausting, as a weekend
Hint: Picture a weekend that sweeps you from event to event like a spinning gust. Nine letters, starts with W.
4D. "___ freedom ring" (line from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech)
Hint: The missing verb expresses permission. Three letters, starts with L.
5D. Carne ___
Hint: Complete the Spanish phrase for grilled meat. Five letters, starts with A.
6D. Color similar to beige, despite its name
Hint: Think of a warm ivory shade named for skeletal material. Nine letters, starts with B.
7D. Cow's mouthful
Hint: This is partially digested food returned to the mouth for more chewing. Three letters, starts with C.
8D. Many a character on BBC's "The Night Manager"
Hint: Think of an undercover intelligence operative. Three letters, starts with S.
14D. "Say, can I ___ you something?"
Hint: The speaker wants to pose a question. Three letters, starts with A.
16D. "Oh, 100%," in slang
Hint: Use a breezy, clipped expression of complete agreement. Five letters, starts with T.
17D. Main artery of the human body
Hint: Think of the major vessel carrying blood out of the heart's left ventricle. Five letters, starts with A.
18D. Toy on a string
Hint: This toy unwinds downward and returns toward your hand. Four letters, starts with Y.
21D. Relaxing escape
Hint: Picture a retreat offering massages and facials. Three letters, starts with S.
22D. Josh
Hint: Read the clue as a verb meaning to tease playfully. Three letters, starts with K.
23D. Internet company that popularized instant messaging
Hint: Think of the dial-up giant behind the running-man messaging icon. 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. Cry like a baby
Answer: BAWL
5A. Topic of a children's song with the lyric "Next time won't you sing with me?"
Answer: ABCS
9A. Long (for)
Answer: ACHE
10A. Gazpacho or garbure
Answer: SOUP
11A. Common attire for a Secret Service agent
Answer: SUIT
12A. Samberg of "7 Days in Hell"
Answer: ANDY
13A. "To ___ is human; to forgive, divine"
Answer: ERR
14A. Commercial ending with Gator
Answer: ADE
15A. Sets aside for a rainy day
Answer: SALTSAWAY
19A. Stir-frying pan
Answer: WOK
20A. "___ boy!"
Answer: HOO
21A. Comedic sketch
Answer: SKIT
23A. Well-ventilated
Answer: AIRY
24A. Norway ___ (state tree of Minnesota)
Answer: PINE
25A. Palindromic man's name
Answer: OTTO
26A. Counts on one's fingers, say
Answer: ADDS
27A. Actress/singer Salonga
Answer: LEA
Down Answers
1D. Diamond quartet
Answer: BASES
2D. Luxury brand of Honda
Answer: ACURA
3D. Action-packed and exhausting, as a weekend
Answer: WHIRLWIND
4D. "___ freedom ring" (line from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech)
Answer: LET
5D. Carne ___
Answer: ASADA
6D. Color similar to beige, despite its name
Answer: BONEWHITE
7D. Cow's mouthful
Answer: CUD
8D. Many a character on BBC's "The Night Manager"
Answer: SPY
14D. "Say, can I ___ you something?"
Answer: ASK
16D. "Oh, 100%," in slang
Answer: TOTES
17D. Main artery of the human body
Answer: AORTA
18D. Toy on a string
Answer: YOYO
21D. Relaxing escape
Answer: SPA
22D. Josh
Answer: KID
23D. Internet company that popularized instant messaging
Answer: AOL
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 15A, "Sets aside for a rainy day," gives SALTS AWAY, the grid's standout phrase. The clue uses a familiar saving idiom to summon another, making the central entry feel conversational.
Wordplay Winner: 22D, "Josh," wins the misdirection prize with KID. The initial capital encourages a person's-name reading, while the answer treats the clue as a verb meaning to tease.
Quick Fill: 19A's WOK is the fastest confident fill, thanks to the precise stir-frying reference. It supplies crossing letters for WHIRLWIND, TOTES, and ASK, giving a compact entry useful reach through the middle.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use precise short clues to build the longer phrases. WOK gives WHIRLWIND an internal W, while ABCS and SOUP supply the opening BO of BONE WHITE.
When a brief clue stalls you, test another meaning before chasing obscure trivia. "Diamond quartet" points to baseball's BASES, and "Josh" becomes KID when read as a verb.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid rewards flexible reading, with familiar references providing footholds around the longer phrases. SALTS AWAY gives the center a satisfying finish.
See you at the next grid.