Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and mixes crisp trivia, playful phrasing, and a light cinematic thread. Settle in for a lively grid with several satisfying connections.
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: 31 (15 Across, 16 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 20A is the trickiest clue, since recognizing the diacritical mark is easier than recalling its uncommon spelling.
Gimme Clue: 10A is the clearest gimme, with a direct description of familiar tart green citrus fruits.
Theme Spotted: "Circle of Life"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. What a spare key is often hidden under
Hint: Think of the household item beneath which a spare key is stereotypically tucked. Three letters, starts with M.
4A. Little ___ (kid's nickname)
Hint: The blank completes an affectionate nickname for a boy. Five letters, starts with F.
9A. Continent with lions and hyenas: Abbr.
Hint: Seek the standard crossword abbreviation for the continent associated here with lions and hyenas. Three letters, starts with A.
10A. Sour green fruits
Hint: Picture the tart green citrus fruits often squeezed into drinks. Five letters, starts with L.
11A. Accusatory cry
Hint: It is the pointed pronoun someone shouts while assigning blame. Three letters, starts with Y.
12A. Not up to the job
Hint: Choose the adjective for someone not qualified or capable of the task. Five letters, starts with U.
13A. Obama's predecessor
Hint: Name the U.S. president immediately before Barack Obama. Four letters, starts with B.
15A. In the past
Hint: Use a short time marker meaning at an earlier point. Three letters, starts with A.
16A. Musician who co-composed the song from "The Lion King" suggested in this puzzle
Hint: Think of the British singer, pianist, and composer behind a celebrated song from Disney's savanna-set film. Nine letters, starts with E.
19A. See 21-Down
Hint: Combine this entry with 21D to name a drifting Arctic chunk. Four letters, starts with F.
20A. Two dots above a vowel, as in Brontë and naïve
Hint: Name the diacritical mark that separates the pronunciation of adjacent vowels, as in the examples given. Nine letters, starts with D.
25A. Org. defending individual rights
Hint: Think of the civil-liberties organization known for defending individual rights. Four letters, starts with A.
26A. Land of Lima (and llamas)
Hint: Name the South American country whose capital is Lima and whose highlands are associated with llamas. Four letters, starts with P.
27A. App with restaurant reviews
Hint: Think of the app whose entries rate restaurants and other local businesses. Four letters, starts with Y.
28A. "The Lion King" villain
Hint: Recall the treacherous uncle who plots against the royal family in Disney's savanna-set film. Four letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Parent's response that sometimes means "I'm stalling, but no"
Hint: A parent may use this noncommittal reply to postpone a refusal. Five letters, starts with M.
2D. Run ___ of (clash with)
Hint: Complete the idiom for coming into conflict with someone. Five letters, starts with A.
3D. Corporate team-building exercise
Hint: Picture the workplace bonding exercise in which one participant drops backward for colleagues to catch. Nine letters, starts with T.
4D. Winter bug
Hint: Think of the seasonal viral illness associated with fever and aches. Three letters, starts with F.
5D. German "a"
Hint: Supply the German indefinite article used before a masculine or neuter noun. Three letters, starts with E.
6D. Texter's "That's hilarious!"
Hint: Use the emphatic texting initialism that signals intense laughter. Five letters, starts with L.
7D. Vivien ___, Oscar winner for "Gone With the Wind"
Hint: Name the actor who played the central heroine in Gone With the Wind and earned the Academy Award for the performance. Five letters, starts with L.
8D. ___ Martin (sports car)
Hint: Complete the name of the British luxury sports-car marque associated with James Bond. Five letters, starts with A.
14D. Take shelter in a safe place
Hint: Use the phrasal verb for hiding out in a protected location. Six letters, starts with H.
17D. Neither's partner
Hint: Complete the fixed correlative phrase that begins with “neither.” Three letters, starts with N.
18D. Wrangler and Grand Wagoneer
Hint: Name the rugged vehicle brand represented by the Wrangler and Grand Wagoneer. Five letters, starts with J.
20D. The "15" of 8/15/26, e.g.
Hint: Classify what the 15 represents within the date 8/15/26. Three letters, starts with D.
21D. With 19-Across, floating chunk in the Arctic Ocean
Hint: Pair this with 19A to form the term for a floating Arctic chunk. Three letters, starts with I.
22D. Triple ___ (margarita ingredient)
Hint: Complete the orange-liqueur phrase used in a margarita recipe. Three letters, starts with S.
23D. Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N
Hint: Insert the missing capitals to reveal the standard abbreviation for a retirement account. Three letters, starts with I.
24D. Spanish for "south"
Hint: Translate the compass direction represented by the bottom of a standard map into Spanish. 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. What a spare key is often hidden under
Answer: MAT
4A. Little ___ (kid's nickname)
Answer: FELLA
9A. Continent with lions and hyenas: Abbr.
Answer: AFR
10A. Sour green fruits
Answer: LIMES
11A. Accusatory cry
Answer: YOU
12A. Not up to the job
Answer: UNFIT
13A. Obama's predecessor
Answer: BUSH
15A. In the past
Answer: AGO
16A. Musician who co-composed the song from "The Lion King" suggested in this puzzle
Answer: ELTONJOHN
19A. See 21-Down
Answer: FLOE
20A. Two dots above a vowel, as in Brontë and naïve
Answer: DIAERESIS
25A. Org. defending individual rights
Answer: ACLU
26A. Land of Lima (and llamas)
Answer: PERU
27A. App with restaurant reviews
Answer: YELP
28A. "The Lion King" villain
Answer: SCAR
Down Answers
1D. Parent's response that sometimes means "I'm stalling, but no"
Answer: MAYBE
2D. Run ___ of (clash with)
Answer: AFOUL
3D. Corporate team-building exercise
Answer: TRUSTFALL
4D. Winter bug
Answer: FLU
5D. German "a"
Answer: EIN
6D. Texter's "That's hilarious!"
Answer: LMFAO
7D. Vivien ___, Oscar winner for "Gone With the Wind"
Answer: LEIGH
8D. ___ Martin (sports car)
Answer: ASTON
14D. Take shelter in a safe place
Answer: HOLEUP
17D. Neither's partner
Answer: NOR
18D. Wrangler and Grand Wagoneer
Answer: JEEPS
20D. The "15" of 8/15/26, e.g.
Answer: DAY
21D. With 19-Across, floating chunk in the Arctic Ocean
Answer: ICE
22D. Triple ___ (margarita ingredient)
Answer: SEC
23D. Appropriate missing letters in RET_ _EMENT PL_N
Answer: IRA
24D. Spanish for "south"
Answer: SUR
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 16A, ELTON JOHN, defines the puzzle because its clue makes the central marquee entry a bridge between music and the Lion King references, reinforced by SCAR at 28A.
Wordplay Winner: IRA is the wordplay winner at 23D. Inserting I, R, and A into RET_ _EMENT PL_N completes RETIREMENT PLAN, making the fill both the missing letters and the account abbreviation.
Quick Fill: LIMES was the fastest confident fill because its direct clue immediately supported FLU, EIN, LMFAO, LEIGH, and ASTON at the crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank direct fills such as LIMES and PERU before wrestling with proper names. The clean crossings of LIMES quickly constrain entries such as LEIGH and ASTON.
When DIAERESIS resists, build it from crossings instead of forcing the spelling from memory. TRUST FALL, HOLE UP, and NOR supply especially useful checkpoints through that long entry.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid played fair, pairing direct trivia with a few sharper spelling and wordplay tests. ELTON JOHN gave the center a bright focal point, while IRA supplied the neatest final click.
See you at the next grid.
