Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and playful misdirection mixes with science, entertainment, and everyday vocabulary. Welcome in, and keep an eye on clues that invite a second reading.
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: 10x10
Total Clues: 36 (19 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 11A is the toughest vocabulary test, asking for military aviation slang without much context to narrow the search.
Gimme Clue: 6D offers the clearest foothold, since its barnyard sound points directly to the animal making it.
Theme Spotted: "Midi Golf"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Apt name for a birder
Hint: Look for a person's name that doubles as a feathered creature. Three letters, starts with J.
4A. Off-key outcome?
Hint: Move your thinking from a musical keyboard to a computer keyboard and an accidental keystroke. Four letters, starts with T.
8A. Chemistry building block
Hint: Think of the basic unit of an element, with a nucleus and electrons. Four letters, starts with A.
10A. Unfortunate weather for an outdoor concert
Hint: Picture concertgoers opening umbrellas while the stage crew protects the equipment. Four letters, starts with R.
11A. Unidentified aircraft, in military slang
Hint: Think of a radar contact whose identity has not been established. Five letters, starts with B.
13A. "___ of Tomorrow" (2014 Tom Cruise sci-fi film)
Hint: Recall the film in which Tom Cruise's soldier repeatedly relives a battle against aliens. Four letters, starts with E.
14A. Extra spot to sleep
Hint: Think of sleeping furniture kept available for an overnight guest. Eight letters, starts with S.
16A. Location
Hint: Think of the physical place where construction or an event happens. Four letters, starts with S.
17A. Pres. Lincoln
Hint: The abbreviated presidential title nudges you toward Lincoln's familiar nickname. Three letters, starts with A.
20A. Unit of power
Hint: Think of the unit used to express a light bulb's power consumption. Four letters, starts with W.
22A. Easy win
Hint: Borrow a basketball term for a close-range attempt that feels readily achievable. Five letters, starts with L.
24A. Tickle, say
Hint: Read tickle figuratively, as something a funny story can do. Five letters, starts with A.
26A. Word whose letters can aptly be used to spell "prepare a pear"
Hint: Look for a kitchen verb meaning to trim away an outer layer, with its letters reused throughout the clue's quoted phrase. Four letters, starts with P.
27A. Freed (of)
Hint: Think of being free of an unwanted burden, keeping the parenthetical preposition in place. Three letters, starts with R.
28A. "Bye Bye ___"
Hint: Recall the musical about a rock star's departure for military service. Six letters, starts with B.
30A. Pressure measure: Abbr.
Hint: Think of the abbreviation printed beside a tire-pressure reading. Three letters, starts with P.
31A. Pair at some weddings
Hint: Picture a wedding in which both spouses wear bridal gowns. Six letters, starts with B.
32A. "Couples Therapy" network, for short
Hint: Think of the premium cable channel behind the documentary series, using its abbreviated listing. Three letters, starts with S.
33A. Greens for lunch, perhaps
Hint: Picture leafy vegetables tossed with dressing in a lunch bowl. Five letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Quick boxing punches
Hint: Think of quick, straight punches delivered with the lead hand. Four letters, starts with J.
2D. Upon
Hint: Think of resting on the highest surface of something. Four letters, starts with A.
3D. Business promoting flexibility?
Hint: The flexibility here is physical, so picture a business where clients practice stretches and poses on mats. Ten letters, starts with Y.
4D. Something commonly planted on Earth Day
Hint: Picture volunteers lowering a sapling into freshly dug soil. Four letters, starts with T.
5D. "You know the rest"
Hint: Think of a repeated conversational expression used to skip predictable details. Ten letters, starts with Y.
6D. Oinker
Hint: Picture the farm animal with a snout and a curly tail. Three letters, starts with P.
7D. Single
Hint: Read the clue numerically rather than as a relationship status. Three letters, starts with O.
9D. Is worthy of
Hint: Think of a verb meaning deserves, as an achievement deserves recognition. Six letters, starts with M.
12D. So far
Hint: Think of the final word in a reply saying an expected event has not happened up to now. Three letters, starts with Y.
15D. "The Fresh Prince of ___-Air"
Hint: Recall the Los Angeles neighborhood in the sitcom's name. Three letters, starts with B.
18D. Bottled up, as emotions
Hint: Picture feelings pushed deep down instead of expressed. Six letters, starts with B.
19D. Olympic fencing swords
Hint: Think of thrusting weapons used in fencing, distinct from foils and sabres. Five letters, starts with E.
20D. Bends out of shape
Hint: Think of what moisture can do to a wooden board. Five letters, starts with W.
21D. Group known for traveling by horse and buggy
Hint: Think of the religious community associated with plain dress and traditional transportation. Five letters, starts with A.
23D. Arab American Heritage Month
Hint: Think of the spring month between March and May. Five letters, starts with A.
25D. Counterpart of flows
Hint: Complete the familiar expression describing tides receding and returning. Four letters, starts with E.
29D. Nest egg initials
Hint: Think of the initials for a personal retirement savings vehicle. Three letters, starts with I.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Apt name for a birder
Answer: JAY
4A. Off-key outcome?
Answer: TYPO
8A. Chemistry building block
Answer: ATOM
10A. Unfortunate weather for an outdoor concert
Answer: RAIN
11A. Unidentified aircraft, in military slang
Answer: BOGEY
13A. "___ of Tomorrow" (2014 Tom Cruise sci-fi film)
Answer: EDGE
14A. Extra spot to sleep
Answer: SPAREBED
16A. Location
Answer: SITE
17A. Pres. Lincoln
Answer: ABE
20A. Unit of power
Answer: WATT
22A. Easy win
Answer: LAYUP
24A. Tickle, say
Answer: AMUSE
26A. Word whose letters can aptly be used to spell "prepare a pear"
Answer: PARE
27A. Freed (of)
Answer: RID
28A. "Bye Bye ___"
Answer: BIRDIE
30A. Pressure measure: Abbr.
Answer: PSI
31A. Pair at some weddings
Answer: BRIDES
32A. "Couples Therapy" network, for short
Answer: SHO
33A. Greens for lunch, perhaps
Answer: SALAD
Down Answers
1D. Quick boxing punches
Answer: JABS
2D. Upon
Answer: ATOP
3D. Business promoting flexibility?
Answer: YOGASTUDIO
4D. Something commonly planted on Earth Day
Answer: TREE
5D. "You know the rest"
Answer: YADDAYADDA
6D. Oinker
Answer: PIG
7D. Single
Answer: ONE
9D. Is worthy of
Answer: MERITS
12D. So far
Answer: YET
15D. "The Fresh Prince of ___-Air"
Answer: BEL
18D. Bottled up, as emotions
Answer: BURIED
19D. Olympic fencing swords
Answer: EPEES
20D. Bends out of shape
Answer: WARPS
21D. Group known for traveling by horse and buggy
Answer: AMISH
23D. Arab American Heritage Month
Answer: APRIL
25D. Counterpart of flows
Answer: EBBS
29D. Nest egg initials
Answer: IRA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 26A, "Word whose letters can aptly be used to spell 'prepare a pear'", earns the spotlight with PARE. The phrase uses only the letters found in PARE and describes a task that paring helps accomplish, giving the letter trick a practical payoff.
Wordplay Winner: 4A, "Off-key outcome?", wins the misdirection prize with TYPO. The clue suggests a musical mistake before switching to the result of hitting the wrong keyboard key.
Quick Fill: PIG at 6D is the fastest confident fill, with "Oinker" providing a direct cue. It supplies crossing letters for TYPO at 4A, RAIN at 10A, and EDGE at 13A, making it a useful anchor in the upper right.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use direct fills such as ATOM and WATT to build crossings before tackling the longer phrases. Both feed YOGA STUDIO at 3D, where "Business promoting flexibility?" rewards reading flexibility as a physical skill.
Keep the clue's grammar intact when several synonyms compete. "Is worthy of" needs the verb MERITS, while "Freed (of)" calls for RID, so reading the fill back into the clue helps check your choice.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct clues provide footholds, while TYPO and YOGA STUDIO reward a change of perspective. PARE delivers the neatest finish, turning a kitchen task into a compact letter puzzle.
See you at the next grid.