Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and it mixes familiar trivia with a concealed letter pattern and some neatly doubled meanings. 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: 11x11
Total Clues: 44 (20 Across, 24 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13D is the trickiest because its bugs invite a medical interpretation, while the intended meaning belongs to a different profession.
Gimme Clue: 35A is the gimme, with an animated ogre description that points directly to a familiar movie character.
Theme Spotted: "Keep It Simple"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Unflattering press coverage, for short
Hint: Think of reputation damage expressed in publicity shorthand. Five letters, starts with B.
6A. Do without food
Hint: Think of deliberately abstaining from meals. Four letters, starts with F.
10A. Cellphone bill figure
Hint: Look for the measure of consumption, rather than the amount owed. Five letters, starts with U.
11A. View from a mountaintop
Hint: Think of a sweeping scenic outlook. Five letters, starts with V.
12A. Place to recover from knee or shoulder surgery
Hint: Picture a facility devoted to restoring movement and strength after an operation. 11 letters, starts with R.
14A. "Hey, buddy old ___!"
Hint: Complete the affectionate greeting with a synonym for buddy. Three letters, starts with P.
15A. Beach ball filler
Hint: Think of what you pump through the valve to inflate it. Three letters, starts with A.
16A. Mechanic's cloth
Hint: Picture a scrap of fabric used to wipe away grease. Three letters, starts with R.
17A. Signature Maryland seafood offering
Hint: Think of a savory seafood patty served browned and crisp. Eight letters, starts with C.
19A. Down in the dumps
Hint: Read down as an emotional condition, rather than a direction. Three letters, starts with S.
21A. Skin bump
Hint: Think of a closed sac beneath the skin. Four letters, starts with C.
22A. Chemists' attire
Hint: Picture the protective garments worn over clothing while handling chemicals. Eight letters, starts with L.
26A. Chicago trains
Hint: Think of the nickname for the city's elevated rail lines, in plural form. Three letters, starts with E.
27A. "I'll take that as ___"
Hint: The speaker interprets the response as a refusal. Three letters, starts with A.
28A. Gaming console with a motion-sensing remote
Hint: Think of Nintendo's console associated with swinging a controller like sports equipment. Three letters, starts with W.
31A. Like child's play ... or (hopefully!) this puzzle?
Hint: Recall a familiar comparison between effortless work and an elementary learning exercise. 11 letters, starts with A.
34A. "Inferno" author
Hint: Think of the Italian poet whose journey through Hell forms part of the Divine Comedy. Five letters, starts with D.
35A. Animated ogre of film
Hint: Picture the green swamp dweller whose companion is a talking donkey. Five letters, starts with S.
36A. Living room staples
Hint: Think of the electronic screens facing the sofa, in shortened plural form. Three letters, starts with T.
37A. On edge
Hint: Think irritable and quick to snap. Five letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1D. Rude sound preceding "Excuse me"
Hint: Think of a belch that calls for an apology. Four letters, starts with B.
2D. Cruising along?
Hint: The question mark turns an expression about easy progress into a literal nautical location. Four letters, starts with A.
3D. Roald of children's literature
Hint: Think of the writer behind Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Four letters, starts with D.
4D. Scottie Scheffler's org.
Hint: Look for the abbreviated golfing body associated with his tour. Three letters, starts with P.
5D. Metal rod placed in concrete
Hint: Think of the reinforcing steel embedded inside a concrete structure. Five letters, starts with R.
6D. Ominous sight when swimming in the ocean
Hint: Picture the part of a shark that breaks the surface. Three letters, starts with F.
7D. Wide of the mark
Hint: Think off course or away from the intended destination. Six letters, starts with A.
8D. T-bones and tomahawks
Hint: Read these as cuts on a grill menu, rather than objects with other uses. Six letters, starts with S.
9D. Chain with a red bull's-eye logo
Hint: Think of the retailer whose shopping carts match its red branding. Six letters, starts with T.
11D. Boom or bust, e.g.
Hint: Treat the examples as words describing actions and identify their grammatical role. Four letters, starts with V.
13D. U.S. org. concerned with bugs
Hint: These bugs are concealed listening devices, so think espionage initials. Three letters, starts with C.
17D. U.S. org. concerned with bugs
Hint: These bugs concern infectious disease, so think public health initials. Three letters, starts with C.
18D. Includes in an email chain, for short
Hint: Think of adding visible copy recipients, expressed as an abbreviated action. Three letters, starts with C.
19D. Tortilla chip dip
Hint: Think of a tomato-based accompaniment that can be mild or spicy. Five letters, starts with S.
20D. Missing
Hint: Think of the attendance designation for someone who did not show up. Six letters, starts with A.
22D. Metal alchemists tried to turn into gold
Hint: Think of the heavy metal associated with old plumbing and the chemical symbol Pb. Four letters, starts with L.
23D. Places of refuge
Hint: Picture welcoming pockets of water and greenery amid desert surroundings. Five letters, starts with O.
24D. "___ idea?"
Hint: Complete the conversational question asking whether a suggestion comes to mind at all. Three letters, starts with A.
25D. Eggs go-with
Hint: Think of browned bread ready for butter at breakfast. Five letters, starts with T.
28D. Major conflicts
Hint: Think of armed struggles between nations. Four letters, starts with W.
29D. Possible response to someone who claims to be able to do a double backflip
Hint: Imagine a brief, dry acknowledgment delivered with a skeptical tone. Four letters, starts with I.
30D. Disgusting
Hint: Think of a childlike adjective for something gross or slimy. Four letters, starts with I.
32D. Off-roader's ride
Hint: Think of a compact motorized vehicle built for rugged trails, in abbreviated form. Three letters, starts with A.
33D. ___-wolf
Hint: Supply the feminine pronoun used in this animal compound. Three letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Unflattering press coverage, for short
Answer: BADPR
6A. Do without food
Answer: FAST
10A. Cellphone bill figure
Answer: USAGE
11A. View from a mountaintop
Answer: VISTA
12A. Place to recover from knee or shoulder surgery
Answer: REHABCENTER
14A. "Hey, buddy old ___!"
Answer: PAL
15A. Beach ball filler
Answer: AIR
16A. Mechanic's cloth
Answer: RAG
17A. Signature Maryland seafood offering
Answer: CRABCAKE
19A. Down in the dumps
Answer: SAD
21A. Skin bump
Answer: CYST
22A. Chemists' attire
Answer: LABCOATS
26A. Chicago trains
Answer: ELS
27A. "I'll take that as ___"
Answer: ANO
28A. Gaming console with a motion-sensing remote
Answer: WII
31A. Like child's play ... or (hopefully!) this puzzle?
Answer: ASEASYASABC
34A. "Inferno" author
Answer: DANTE
35A. Animated ogre of film
Answer: SHREK
36A. Living room staples
Answer: TVS
37A. On edge
Answer: TESTY
Down Answers
1D. Rude sound preceding "Excuse me"
Answer: BURP
2D. Cruising along?
Answer: ASEA
3D. Roald of children's literature
Answer: DAHL
4D. Scottie Scheffler's org.
Answer: PGA
5D. Metal rod placed in concrete
Answer: REBAR
6D. Ominous sight when swimming in the ocean
Answer: FIN
7D. Wide of the mark
Answer: ASTRAY
8D. T-bones and tomahawks
Answer: STEAKS
9D. Chain with a red bull's-eye logo
Answer: TARGET
11D. Boom or bust, e.g.
Answer: VERB
13D. U.S. org. concerned with bugs
Answer: CIA
17D. U.S. org. concerned with bugs
Answer: CDC
18D. Includes in an email chain, for short
Answer: CCS
19D. Tortilla chip dip
Answer: SALSA
20D. Missing
Answer: ABSENT
22D. Metal alchemists tried to turn into gold
Answer: LEAD
23D. Places of refuge
Answer: OASES
24D. "___ idea?"
Answer: ANY
25D. Eggs go-with
Answer: TOAST
28D. Major conflicts
Answer: WARS
29D. Possible response to someone who claims to be able to do a double backflip
Answer: IBET
30D. Disgusting
Answer: ICKY
32D. Off-roader's ride
Answer: ATV
33D. ___-wolf
Answer: SHE
Show the solved Midi grid
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 31A, "Like child's play ... or (hopefully!) this puzzle?", gives AS EASY AS ABC and explains the grid's quiet trick. The consecutive letters ABC hide inside REHAB CENTER, CRAB CAKE, and LAB COATS, turning an ordinary expression into a satisfying revealer.
Wordplay Winner: 13D wins with CIA for "U.S. org. concerned with bugs", treating bugs as listening devices. The identical clue at 17D yields CDC through the disease sense, making the repeated wording do different jobs.
Quick Fill: 15A, AIR, is a confident starting point because a beach ball's contents need little interpretation. It supplies crossing letters for REBAR at 5D, CIA at 13D, and VERB at 11D, helping untangle the central clues.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When identical clues recur, test different meanings before repeating an answer. Today's bugs switch from surveillance in CIA to disease in CDC, so crossings should settle the interpretation.
Use a revealer to inspect completed entries as well as unfinished ones. AS EASY AS ABC makes the shared sequence in REHAB CENTER, CRAB CAKE, and LAB COATS a useful confirmation of the longer fills.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
AS EASY AS ABC gives the grid a friendly wink, while the repeated bugs clue adds a welcome snag. The pleasure comes from seeing familiar phrases click into a deliberate pattern.
See you at the next grid.