Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and a landmark riddle and playful everyday clues give the grid its spark. Bring your curiosity and enjoy the crossings.
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 (12 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 17D is the trickiest clue because it asks you to connect an awards-show role with a letter-sound trick.
Gimme Clue: 1A offers a friendly opening, with its feeding restriction pointing toward a familiar animal attraction.
Theme Spotted: "Dehli-cate Subject"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Where you might not be allowed to feed the animals
Hint: Think of an animal attraction with enclosures and posted feeding rules. Three letters, starts with Z.
4A. Talk on and on and on
Hint: Reach for an informal verb for chattering endlessly. Three letters, starts with Y.
7A. New Delhi monument described as a "creative reworking of the Arc de Triomphe" ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters
Hint: Think of the war memorial arch in New Delhi, then revisit the circled letters. Nine letters, starts with I.
11A. Indicator at the start of a golf hole
Hint: Look for the course fixture that defines where golfers begin a hole. Nine letters, starts with T.
12A. Letter after upsilon
Hint: Follow the Greek alphabet forward from upsilon. Three letters, starts with P.
13A. Texting format, for short
Hint: Think of the abbreviated format for traditional phone texts. Three letters, starts with S.
15A. T.S.A. ___Check
Hint: Recall the airport screening program that offers an expedited security lane. Three letters, starts with P.
18A. From ___ Z (everything)
Hint: Complete the familiar expression for covering the entire alphabet. Three letters, starts with A.
19A. Electric guitar accessory
Hint: Think of the equipment a guitarist plugs into for louder sound. Three letters, starts with A.
21A. "Get A.I. to write your college thesis!," e.g.
Hint: Judge the suggested shortcut rather than naming the technology. Nine letters, starts with B.
25A. "Beats me"
Hint: Imagine replying with a shrug and admitting complete uncertainty. Nine letters, starts with I.
26A. Lunch meat holders at a supermarket counter
Hint: Picture the refrigerated glass displays holding sliced meats. Nine letters, starts with D.
Down Hints
1D. Pimple
Hint: Use a casual term for a small skin blemish. Three letters, starts with Z.
2D. Last number shouted in a New Year's Eve countdown
Hint: Think of the final shout just before midnight arrives. Three letters, starts with O.
3D. Poem of praise
Hint: Look for a poetic tribute celebrating its subject. Three letters, starts with O.
4D. Himalayan ox
Hint: Picture a shaggy bovine suited to high mountain country. Three letters, starts with Y.
5D. Had paneer tikka masala, perhaps
Hint: The dish is incidental; focus on the action of consuming a meal. Three letters, starts with A.
6D. In accordance with
Hint: Think of a compact substitute for according to. Three letters, starts with P.
8D. Little troublemakers
Hint: Picture mischievous little devils. Four letters, starts with I.
9D. "That hits the spot!"
Hint: Hear the satisfied sigh after a refreshing drink. Three letters, starts with A.
10D. Concern when swinging a golf club or tennis racket
Hint: Focus on how your hands hold the sporting equipment. Four letters, starts with G.
13D. Ward (off)
Hint: Find the verb that pairs with off to mean keep at bay. Five letters, starts with S.
14D. Runway walker
Hint: This runway belongs to a fashion show. Five letters, starts with M.
16D. Midnight fridge visits
Hint: Treat those late-night snack hunts as tiny kitchen incursions. Five letters, starts with R.
17D. Awards show figure who sounds like its second and third letters
Hint: Think of the host holding the microphone, then test the spelling aloud. Five letters, starts with E.
18D. Put in ___ (try for on eBay)
Hint: Complete the phrase for submitting an auction offer. Four letters, starts with A.
20D. Samosa veggies
Hint: Think of the small green vegetables tucked into the savory filling. Four letters, starts with P.
22D. Singer/songwriter DiFranco
Hint: Recall the folk singer and guitarist billed as DiFranco. Three letters, starts with A.
23D. Med school grad
Hint: Think of a casual way to address a physician. Three letters, starts with D.
24D. Through, on an itinerary
Hint: Look for the routing term that introduces a connecting city. Three letters, starts with V.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Where you might not be allowed to feed the animals
Answer: ZOO
4A. Talk on and on and on
Answer: YAP
7A. New Delhi monument described as a "creative reworking of the Arc de Triomphe" ... or a hint to this puzzle's circled letters
Answer: INDIAGATE
11A. Indicator at the start of a golf hole
Answer: TEEMARKER
12A. Letter after upsilon
Answer: PHI
13A. Texting format, for short
Answer: SMS
15A. T.S.A. ___Check
Answer: PRE
18A. From ___ Z (everything)
Answer: ATO
19A. Electric guitar accessory
Answer: AMP
21A. "Get A.I. to write your college thesis!," e.g.
Answer: BADADVICE
25A. "Beats me"
Answer: IVENOIDEA
26A. Lunch meat holders at a supermarket counter
Answer: DELICASES
Down Answers
1D. Pimple
Answer: ZIT
2D. Last number shouted in a New Year's Eve countdown
Answer: ONE
3D. Poem of praise
Answer: ODE
4D. Himalayan ox
Answer: YAK
5D. Had paneer tikka masala, perhaps
Answer: ATE
6D. In accordance with
Answer: PER
8D. Little troublemakers
Answer: IMPS
9D. "That hits the spot!"
Answer: AAH
10D. Concern when swinging a golf club or tennis racket
Answer: GRIP
13D. Ward (off)
Answer: STAVE
14D. Runway walker
Answer: MODEL
16D. Midnight fridge visits
Answer: RAIDS
17D. Awards show figure who sounds like its second and third letters
Answer: EMCEE
18D. Put in ___ (try for on eBay)
Answer: ABID
20D. Samosa veggies
Answer: PEAS
22D. Singer/songwriter DiFranco
Answer: ANI
23D. Med school grad
Answer: DOC
24D. Through, on an itinerary
Answer: VIA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 7A, INDIA GATE, defines the puzzle by making a New Delhi landmark serve double duty. Its clue asks for the monument while explicitly directing attention to the circled letters, giving the geography a second purpose.
Wordplay Winner: 17D wins with EMCEE, an awards-show host whose name sounds like M and C, its second and third letters. The answer supplies both the person and the evidence for the sound trick.
Quick Fill: 1A, ZOO, is the fastest confident foothold because the animal-feeding restriction gives such a direct cue. Its crossings with ZIT, ONE, and ODE open the upper-left corner and help build toward INDIA GATE and TEE MARKER.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use the short Downs to assemble longer Across answers instead of forcing a complete phrase immediately. ZIT, ONE, and ODE supply the opening letters of INDIA GATE and TEE MARKER.
Read conversational clues aloud and keep their tone intact. That helps turn the shrug in 25A into I'VE NO IDEA, while sounding out EMCEE resolves the spelling trick in 17D.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid balances accessible footholds with clues that reward a second look. INDIA GATE supplies the theme riddle, while EMCEE delivers the neatest little click.
See you at the next grid.