Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Broadway wordplay gives the grid a theatrical streak, with everyday vocabulary keeping the crossings approachable. Settle in and enjoy the performance.
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: 41 (18 Across, 23 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 32A is the trickiest clue because it asks you to connect theatrical trivia with an unexpected serving suggestion.
Gimme Clue: 11D is the clearest gimme, with a direct brand-and-function description that leaves little room for ambiguity.
Theme Spotted: "Dinner and a Show"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. "What's the meaning of all ___?"
Hint: 1A: Complete the indignant demand for an explanation by pointing verbally at the situation nearby. Four letters, starts with T.
5A. Helper in a red-and-green hat
Hint: 5A: Picture a worker in Santa's workshop. Three letters, starts with E.
8A. Lift
Hint: 8A: Think of raising a flag using a rope. Five letters, starts with H.
9A. Squeezing snake
Hint: 9A: Look for a constrictor rather than a venomous striker. Three letters, starts with B.
10A. Rack of ribs at a 2009 Broadway musical?
Hint: 10A: Pair the show's Tennessee setting with a smoky rib specialty. Ten letters, starts with M.
12A. Shoe parts that can have treads
Hint: 12A: Think underneath the footwear, where rubber grips the pavement. Five letters, starts with S.
13A. Climbs
Hint: 13A: Think of what a temperature reading does as the weather gets warmer. Five letters, starts with R.
14A. One on the campaign trail, informally
Hint: 14A: Use a clipped, informal label for a candidate seeking votes. Three letters, starts with P.
15A. ___ de force
Hint: 15A: Complete the French expression for an impressive feat of skill. Four letters, starts with T.
17A. Italian pie at a 2018 Broadway musical?
Hint: 17A: Combine the animated-film adaptation's title with a tomato-and-cheese dish. 11 letters, starts with F.
22A. Dublin's land: Abbr.
Hint: 22A: Use the geographic abbreviation for Dublin's home country. Three letters, starts with I.
23A. Word with baron, boom or barrel
Hint: 23A: Think of the petroleum business and its product. Three letters, starts with O.
24A. Assemble ingredients in the kitchen, say
Hint: 24A: Think of the chopping and measuring that happen before cooking begins. Four letters, starts with P.
27A. Marvin Gaye song with the lyric "Oh, the dark days are done, and the bright days are here"
Hint: 27A: Think of a cheerful weather description that matches the lyric's renewed optimism. Five letters, starts with S.
29A. Stereo system cable hookups
Hint: 29A: Look for the sockets that accept plugs carrying sound signals. Ten letters, starts with A.
32A. Sushi servings at a 1996 Broadway musical?
Hint: 32A: Match the rock musical about cash-strapped artists with bite-sized Japanese fare. Nine letters, starts with R.
33A. Bag-screening org.
Hint: 33A: Think of the initials on uniforms at an airport security checkpoint. Three letters, starts with T.
34A. Phi ___ Kappa
Hint: 34A: Supply the Greek letter inside the academic honor society's name. Four letters, starts with B.
Down Hints
1D. Weighty book
Hint: 1D: Picture a hefty scholarly volume that could strain a bookshelf. Four letters, starts with T.
2D. Person who embraces non-mainstream trends
Hint: 2D: Think of a trend-conscious person drawn to indie culture and obscure tastes. Seven letters, starts with H.
3D. "Kinda sorta"
Hint: 3D: Think of the casual suffix that softens an exact description. Three letters, starts with I.
4D. Provoke, as trouble
Hint: 4D: Look for a verb phrase meaning to incite unrest or cause trouble. Six letters, starts with S.
5D. ___ and flows
Hint: 5D: Recall the tidal expression that pairs retreat with return. Four letters, starts with E.
6D. Part of the ear
Hint: 6D: Think of the soft flesh where an earring can hang. Four letters, starts with L.
7D. Common queries, for short
Hint: 7D: Look for the abbreviated heading above a website's routine help questions. Four letters, starts with F.
8D. Meaning of "Ni hao" and "Ciao"
Hint: 8D: Think of a greeting used when meeting someone. Five letters, starts with H.
10D. Tie up, as a boat
Hint: 10D: Use the nautical verb for securing a vessel to a fixed point. Four letters, starts with M.
11D. Apple's virtual assistant
Hint: 11D: Recall the voice you summon to set an alarm on an iPhone. Four letters, starts with S.
12D. Letters on lotion bottle
Hint: 12D: Think of the abbreviated rating beside a sunscreen's protection number. Three letters, starts with S.
16D. "___ potato, two potato ..."
Hint: 16D: Start the familiar counting rhyme at its beginning. Three letters, starts with O.
18D. "Hush!"
Hint: 18D: Imagine a blunt command to close your mouth and stop talking. Five letters, starts with Z.
19D. Falls deeply asleep, with "out"
Hint: 19D: Think of a slang verb for crashing into deep sleep. Five letters, starts with Z.
20D. Red wine selections, for short
Hint: 20D: Shorten the grape variety Zinfandel, then make it plural. Four letters, starts with Z.
21D. Olympic gymnast Raisman
Hint: 21D: Recall gymnast Raisman, known for her powerful floor routines. Three letters, starts with A.
24D. Role played on stage
Hint: 24D: Think of the character an actor is cast to portray. Four letters, starts with P.
25D. Wishes undone
Hint: 25D: Look for a verb meaning regrets past actions. Four letters, starts with R.
26D. Teacher Krabappel on "The Simpsons"
Hint: 26D: Recall Bart's teacher, whose surname is Krabappel. Four letters, starts with E.
27D. Mineral once called "white gold"
Hint: 27D: Think of the crystalline seasoning kept beside pepper. Four letters, starts with S.
28D. The Bruins of the N.C.A.A.
Hint: 28D: Think of the Los Angeles campus represented by the Bruins. Four letters, starts with U.
30D. Sphere
Hint: 30D: Use a compact, literary synonym for a globe. Three letters, starts with O.
31D. QB Montana
Hint: 31D: Recall San Francisco's celebrated quarterback Montana. Three letters, starts with J.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. "What's the meaning of all ___?"
Answer: THIS
5A. Helper in a red-and-green hat
Answer: ELF
8A. Lift
Answer: HOIST
9A. Squeezing snake
Answer: BOA
10A. Rack of ribs at a 2009 Broadway musical?
Answer: MEMPHISBBQ
12A. Shoe parts that can have treads
Answer: SOLES
13A. Climbs
Answer: RISES
14A. One on the campaign trail, informally
Answer: POL
15A. ___ de force
Answer: TOUR
17A. Italian pie at a 2018 Broadway musical?
Answer: FROZENPIZZA
22A. Dublin's land: Abbr.
Answer: IRE
23A. Word with baron, boom or barrel
Answer: OIL
24A. Assemble ingredients in the kitchen, say
Answer: PREP
27A. Marvin Gaye song with the lyric "Oh, the dark days are done, and the bright days are here"
Answer: SUNNY
29A. Stereo system cable hookups
Answer: AUDIOJACKS
32A. Sushi servings at a 1996 Broadway musical?
Answer: RENTROLLS
33A. Bag-screening org.
Answer: TSA
34A. Phi ___ Kappa
Answer: BETA
Down Answers
1D. Weighty book
Answer: TOME
2D. Person who embraces non-mainstream trends
Answer: HIPSTER
3D. "Kinda sorta"
Answer: ISH
4D. Provoke, as trouble
Answer: STIRUP
5D. ___ and flows
Answer: EBBS
6D. Part of the ear
Answer: LOBE
7D. Common queries, for short
Answer: FAQS
8D. Meaning of "Ni hao" and "Ciao"
Answer: HELLO
10D. Tie up, as a boat
Answer: MOOR
11D. Apple's virtual assistant
Answer: SIRI
12D. Letters on lotion bottle
Answer: SPF
16D. "___ potato, two potato ..."
Answer: ONE
18D. "Hush!"
Answer: ZIPIT
19D. Falls deeply asleep, with "out"
Answer: ZONKS
20D. Red wine selections, for short
Answer: ZINS
21D. Olympic gymnast Raisman
Answer: ALY
24D. Role played on stage
Answer: PART
25D. Wishes undone
Answer: RUES
26D. Teacher Krabappel on "The Simpsons"
Answer: EDNA
27D. Mineral once called "white gold"
Answer: SALT
28D. The Bruins of the N.C.A.A.
Answer: UCLA
30D. Sphere
Answer: ORB
31D. QB Montana
Answer: JOE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 32A, "Sushi servings at a 1996 Broadway musical?", yields RENT ROLLS, the sharpest expression of today's theme. A phrase for rental-property records becomes an imaginary sushi order at Rent, giving both words a fresh job.
Wordplay Winner: 17A wins for FROZEN PIZZA, which turns a freezer staple into an imaginary menu item at Frozen. The question mark invites you to read the familiar phrase through the Broadway show's title.
Quick Fill: 11D SIRI is the strongest early anchor because Apple's assistant has a direct, recognizable clue. It supplies crossing letters to 10A MEMPHIS BBQ, 13A RISES, 15A TOUR and 17A FROZEN PIZZA, helping with both themed entries and shorter fill.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When a clue ends in a question mark, test a literal reinterpretation of a familiar phrase. MEMPHIS BBQ, FROZEN PIZZA and RENT ROLLS all work by treating a musical title as the setting for a food order.
Match the clue's register before hunting for synonyms. The informal wording at 14A points toward POL, while the shortened wine request at 20D calls for ZINS.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The straightforward crossings give the theatrical jokes room to land. RENT ROLLS delivers the best final payoff, turning dry paperwork into a neatly staged sushi gag.
See you at the next grid.