Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and familiar references meet conversational clues and a sly figurative twist. Come on in and enjoy the grid.
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: 10x9
Total Clues: 34 (15 Across, 19 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 12A is the trickiest because its conversational wording leaves room for competing phrases until the crossings narrow it down.
Gimme Clue: 5A offers the clearest foothold, with Mexico pointing directly to its currency.
Theme Spotted: "Snakes in the Grass"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Tees and tanks
Hint: Think clothing worn above the waist. Four letters, starts with T.
5A. Money in Mexico
Hint: Think of the currency used for purchases in Mexico. Four letters, starts with P.
9A. Long poems with heroes
Hint: Think of sweeping verse narratives about heroic deeds. Five letters, starts with E.
11A. Basic earring
Hint: Picture an earring that sits against the lobe rather than dangling. Four letters, starts with S.
12A. "Just like we discussed ..."
Hint: Think of a phrase accompanying delivery of something you pledged to provide. Ten letters, starts with A.
14A. ___ Today
Hint: Complete the name of a national daily newspaper. Three letters, starts with U.
15A. QB's passing units: Abbr.
Hint: Think of the abbreviated distance measure used for football passing totals. Three letters, starts with Y.
16A. Some bath time playthings
Hint: Picture miniature vessels floating in the tub. Eight letters, starts with T.
20A. Number that changes on your birthday
Hint: Think of what the candles on a birthday cake represent. Three letters, starts with A.
21A. "Ohhh, I see now!"
Hint: Listen for the exclamation that accompanies sudden understanding. Three letters, starts with A.
23A. Like a snake in the grass
Hint: Read the snake figuratively, as a person who betrays trust. Ten letters, starts with T.
28A. Religious leader's speech
Hint: Think of an address delivered from a pulpit. Six letters, starts with S.
29A. Opposite of con
Hint: Think of the favorable side of a debate. Three letters, starts with P.
30A. Sound from a sleeper
Hint: Listen for noisy breathing from the neighboring pillow. Five letters, starts with S.
31A. "So whaddya ___?"
Hint: Complete the casual request for a response to an invitation. Three letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Drink that may be served with grass jelly or boba
Hint: Think of the brewed drink beneath those chewy additions. Three letters, starts with T.
2D. Photo ___
Hint: Think of staged chances to pose for cameras, in shortened form. Three letters, starts with O.
3D. Dot on a domino
Hint: The spot on the tile has a specific gaming term. Three letters, starts with P.
4D. Thoroughly clean
Hint: Think vigorous cleaning with a brush. Five letters, starts with S.
5D. Letter before omega
Hint: Move backward from the final Greek letter. Three letters, starts with P.
6D. Certain "storefronts" that often sell handmade items
Hint: Picture individual sellers' pages within an online craft marketplace. Nine letters, starts with E.
7D. Took to court
Hint: Think of filing a civil legal claim against someone. Four letters, starts with S.
8D. Betting figures
Hint: These figures express the chances attached to a wager. Four letters, starts with O.
10D. Meh
Hint: Think middling, neither excellent nor awful. Four letters, starts with S.
13D. Cry on a goat farm
Hint: Listen for a bleat rather than a human shout. Three letters, starts with M.
16D. Bits of body art
Hint: Think of a casual term for inked designs on skin. Four letters, starts with T.
17D. "___ are like onions ... onions have layers, ___ have layers" ("Shrek" line)
Hint: Recall the kind of fairy-tale creature Shrek is defending in his onion comparison. Five letters, starts with O.
18D. Wish (for)
Hint: Think of longing deeply for something. Five letters, starts with Y.
19D. Roofing material
Hint: Picture a thick black substance used to seal a roof. Three letters, starts with T.
22D. Cool factor, in Gen Z slang
Hint: Think of the intangible presence that makes a person seem impressive. Four letters, starts with A.
24D. Texter's "What I think is ... "
Hint: Use texting shorthand that marks a statement as a personal view. Three letters, starts with I.
25D. The Blue Jays, on scoreboards
Hint: Use the abbreviated home city of Canada's Blue Jays. Three letters, starts with T.
26D. 20-Across of some toddlers
Hint: Resolve 20A, then think of a toddler's earliest birthday milestone. Three letters, starts with O.
27D. Impossible Foods "meat" base
Hint: Think of the bean behind tofu and the brand's meat alternative. 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. Tees and tanks
Answer: TOPS
5A. Money in Mexico
Answer: PESO
9A. Long poems with heroes
Answer: EPICS
11A. Basic earring
Answer: STUD
12A. "Just like we discussed ..."
Answer: ASPROMISED
14A. ___ Today
Answer: USA
15A. QB's passing units: Abbr.
Answer: YDS
16A. Some bath time playthings
Answer: TOYBOATS
20A. Number that changes on your birthday
Answer: AGE
21A. "Ohhh, I see now!"
Answer: AHA
23A. Like a snake in the grass
Answer: TRAITOROUS
28A. Religious leader's speech
Answer: SERMON
29A. Opposite of con
Answer: PRO
30A. Sound from a sleeper
Answer: SNORE
31A. "So whaddya ___?"
Answer: SAY
Down Answers
1D. Drink that may be served with grass jelly or boba
Answer: TEA
2D. Photo ___
Answer: OPS
3D. Dot on a domino
Answer: PIP
4D. Thoroughly clean
Answer: SCRUB
5D. Letter before omega
Answer: PSI
6D. Certain "storefronts" that often sell handmade items
Answer: ETSYSHOPS
7D. Took to court
Answer: SUED
8D. Betting figures
Answer: ODDS
10D. Meh
Answer: SOSO
13D. Cry on a goat farm
Answer: MAA
16D. Bits of body art
Answer: TATS
17D. "___ are like onions ... onions have layers, ___ have layers" ("Shrek" line)
Answer: OGRES
18D. Wish (for)
Answer: YEARN
19D. Roofing material
Answer: TAR
22D. Cool factor, in Gen Z slang
Answer: AURA
24D. Texter's "What I think is ... "
Answer: IMO
25D. The Blue Jays, on scoreboards
Answer: TOR
26D. 20-Across of some toddlers
Answer: ONE
27D. Impossible Foods "meat" base
Answer: SOY
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 6D, "Certain 'storefronts' that often sell handmade items," leads to ETSY SHOPS. The quotation marks neatly move the setting from a physical shopping street to individual sellers within an online marketplace.
Wordplay Winner: 23A, "Like a snake in the grass," wins with TRAITOROUS. The clue invites a reptile description before its familiar idiom redirects you toward betrayal.
Quick Fill: 5A, PESO, is the fastest confident fill, thanks to the direct currency clue. It supplies crossing letters for PSI, ETSY SHOPS, SUED and ODDS, giving the upper-right corner a useful foothold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Let crossings settle conversational fills such as AS PROMISED rather than committing to the first phrase that fits the clue's mood. Short, direct definitions give you firmer letters to work with.
Follow explicit cross-references as soon as their source is filled. Here, AGE at 20A turns 26D into a concrete toddler milestone and points to ONE.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid balances reassuring definitions with phrases that reward a change of perspective. TRAITOROUS delivers the sharpest turn, making an ordinary-looking clue worth a second look.
See you at the next grid.