Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and offers a lively mix of film trivia, contemporary terminology, and crisp wordplay. Settle in and let the short crossings open up the longer entries.
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: 29 (12 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 18A is the trickiest clue because its specialized digital-marketing terminology demands a precise compound expression.
Gimme Clue: 6D is the clearest gimme, since the peace-sign gesture makes the required count immediate.
Theme Spotted: “Frankly Speaking”
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Unit of energy
Hint: Think of the SI unit used to measure work or energy. Five letters, starts with J.
6A. Professional screening bags at an airport
Hint: Picture the uniformed airport professional who inspects carry-on bags. Eight letters, starts with T.
9A. 1997 Hoffman/De Niro dark comedy whose name derives from an idiom
Hint: Name the 1997 political satire starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, titled after an idiom about distraction and control. Nine letters, starts with W.
11A. Block of rock
Hint: Think of mineral-bearing rock from which metal can be extracted. Three letters, starts with O.
12A. Alter ___
Hint: Complete the familiar phrase for a secondary identity or alternate self. Three letters, starts with E.
13A. Child with military parents
Hint: The clue seeks an informal term for a child raised in a military household. Eight letters, starts with A.
17A. Boyfriend
Hint: Look for an old-fashioned term for a male romantic partner. Four letters, starts with B.
18A. Specialized URL used in digital marketing
Hint: Think of a trackable marketing URL created for a particular campaign or offer. Nine letters, starts with P.
23A. Only city in the world that completely surrounds an independent country
Hint: Identify the Italian capital that encloses Vatican City. Four letters, starts with R.
24A. Pet name for a romantic partner
Hint: Use an affectionate pet name addressed to a romantic partner. Four letters, starts with B.
25A. Subsides, as the tide
Hint: Think of what the tide does as it recedes. Four letters, starts with E.
26A. Minor obstacle
Hint: Name a small hitch that briefly obstructs progress. Four letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Bar drink made with a German liqueur and Red Bull, familiarly
Hint: Picture the familiar bar shot that drops German herbal liqueur into an energy drink. Nine letters, starts with J.
2D. Kind of nondairy milk
Hint: Think of the grain-based alternative frequently ordered in coffee drinks. Three letters, starts with O.
3D. "Really? Again?!"
Hint: Supply a short groan of exasperation at an unwelcome repeat. Three letters, starts with U.
4D. See 7-Down
Hint: This completes 7D's baked-goods brand, so solve the paired clues as one familiar company name. Three letters, starts with L.
5D. Rear-___ (auto mishap)
Hint: Think of the term for a collision in which one vehicle strikes another from behind. Five letters, starts with E.
6D. Number of fingers held up when making a peace sign
Hint: Hold up the standard peace-sign hand and count the raised fingers. Three letters, starts with T.
7D. With 4-Down, popular name in baked goods
Hint: Join this with 4D to form the name of a baked-goods company known for frozen desserts. Four letters, starts with S.
8D. Wrap at a frat party, say
Hint: Picture the draped classical costume adopted at a stereotypical fraternity party. Four letters, starts with T.
10D. "What have you ___ for me?"
Hint: Supply the past-tense verb that makes the quoted question grammatical. Three letters, starts with G.
14D. Some images in a social media feed
Hint: Think of captioned, shareable images or jokes circulating through social feeds. Five letters, starts with M.
15D. 7'6" Chinese hoops star ___ Ming
Hint: Identify the 7'6" Chinese basketball star indicated by the clue. Three letters, starts with Y.
16D. Some flower producers
Hint: Think of underground plant structures that store nutrients and later send up flowers. Five letters, starts with B.
18D. Opposite of post-
Hint: Supply the short element meaning earlier, paired as the opposite of post-. Three letters, starts with P.
19D. Burglarize
Hint: Use a direct verb meaning to burglarize or steal from. Three letters, starts with R.
20D. McKellen who played Magneto
Hint: Identify the British actor who portrayed both Magneto and Gandalf. Three letters, starts with I.
21D. Org. with the Knicks and Kings
Hint: Name the professional basketball league containing the Knicks and Kings. Three letters, starts with N.
22D. Beer barrel
Hint: Picture the stout barrel used to store and dispense beer. Three letters, starts with K.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Unit of energy
Answer: JOULE
6A. Professional screening bags at an airport
Answer: TSAAGENT
9A. 1997 Hoffman/De Niro dark comedy whose name derives from an idiom
Answer: WAGTHEDOG
11A. Block of rock
Answer: ORE
12A. Alter ___
Answer: EGO
13A. Child with military parents
Answer: ARMYBRAT
17A. Boyfriend
Answer: BEAU
18A. Specialized URL used in digital marketing
Answer: PROMOLINK
23A. Only city in the world that completely surrounds an independent country
Answer: ROME
24A. Pet name for a romantic partner
Answer: BABE
25A. Subsides, as the tide
Answer: EBBS
26A. Minor obstacle
Answer: SNAG
Down Answers
1D. Bar drink made with a German liqueur and Red Bull, familiarly
Answer: JAGERBOMB
2D. Kind of nondairy milk
Answer: OAT
3D. "Really? Again?!"
Answer: UGH
4D. See 7-Down
Answer: LEE
5D. Rear-___ (auto mishap)
Answer: ENDER
6D. Number of fingers held up when making a peace sign
Answer: TWO
7D. With 4-Down, popular name in baked goods
Answer: SARA
8D. Wrap at a frat party, say
Answer: TOGA
10D. "What have you ___ for me?"
Answer: GOT
14D. Some images in a social media feed
Answer: MEMES
15D. 7'6" Chinese hoops star ___ Ming
Answer: YAO
16D. Some flower producers
Answer: BULBS
18D. Opposite of post-
Answer: PRE
19D. Burglarize
Answer: ROB
20D. McKellen who played Magneto
Answer: IAN
21D. Org. with the Knicks and Kings
Answer: NBA
22D. Beer barrel
Answer: KEG
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 9A, “1997 Hoffman/De Niro dark comedy whose name derives from an idiom,” lands on WAG THE DOG. It works because the title is precise film trivia and an idiom about reversing the expected order to manipulate attention.
Wordplay Winner: 16D wins the wordplay round with BULBS for “Some flower producers.” The clue makes “producers” sound like people or companies, then redirects it toward the plant structures that generate flowers.
Quick Fill: 6D, TWO, is the fastest confident fill because the peace-sign clue is visual and direct. Its crossings secure the openings of TSA AGENT, WAG THE DOG, and ORE.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank direct definitions such as JOULE, ORE, and TWO first, then carry their crossing letters into WAG THE DOG and JAGERBOMB.
Treat cross-references as a single task. Solving SARA and LEE together is cleaner than forcing either half from crossings alone.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid treated solvers fairly, pairing sturdy short entries with lively long answers. WAG THE DOG supplied the strongest flash of personality.
See you at the next grid.
