Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and it blends film trivia, familiar expressions, and playful shifts in meaning. Come on in and give the grid a go.
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: 32 (13 Across, 19 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 22A asks for a culturally specific hairstyle, so recognition matters more than synonym hunting.
Gimme Clue: 16D gives a direct everyday action in the past tense, making it an easy place to begin.
Theme Spotted: "Middle English"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Vegetable in gumbo
Hint: Think of the green pods that help thicken the stew. Four letters, starts with O.
5A. Tear
Hint: Read this as an action involving paper, rather than moisture from an eye. Three letters, starts with R.
8A. 1989 Patrick Swayze cult film set in a rural bar
Hint: Think of the Swayze film whose title names the kind of drinking establishment at its center. Nine letters, starts with R.
11A. "Like we discussed earlier ..."
Hint: The phrase introduces information the listener already has. Nine letters, starts with A.
12A. Brit's bathroom
Hint: Use an informal British term for the toilet. Three letters, starts with L.
13A. Cutlery famously sold in infomercials
Hint: Think of a branded kitchen blade promoted through televised cutting demonstrations. Ten letters, starts with G.
20A. Home to Thailand and Turkmenistan
Hint: Zoom out from the countries to their shared continent. Four letters, starts with A.
21A. Animal with a small pet door, perhaps
Hint: Think of a household pet known for whiskers and a meow. Three letters, starts with C.
22A. Intricate hairstyle associated with Zulu traditions
Hint: Picture sections of hair twisted into compact coils against the scalp. Ten letters, starts with B.
26A. Commit perjury
Hint: Think of giving false testimony under oath. Three letters, starts with L.
27A. Actress Mara of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
Hint: Focus on the actress identified by Mara and the film named in the clue. Six letters, starts with R.
28A. Singer Sheeran and actor Harris
Hint: Their shared given name becomes a plural here. Three letters, starts with E.
29A. Quibbles
Hint: Think of tiny faults someone picks at. Four letters, starts with N.
Down Hints
1D. "... man ___ mouse?"
Hint: Complete the familiar challenge that contrasts courage with timidity. Three letters, starts with O.
2D. Boxing wins, for short
Hint: Use the abbreviated plural for victories achieved by putting an opponent down for the count. Three letters, starts with K.
3D. Unit of sunlight
Hint: Picture a narrow beam coming through a window. Three letters, starts with R.
4D. Fuss
Hint: Think of needless commotion over a small matter. Three letters, starts with A.
5D. Kind of sentence that should really be more than one sentence
Hint: Think of independent clauses joined without proper punctuation or a conjunction. Five letters, starts with R.
6D. Prefix with -metric
Hint: The prefix carries the sense of equal. Three letters, starts with I.
7D. Where churchgoers sit
Hint: Picture a long bench facing the altar. Three letters, starts with P.
9D. Big name in streaming TV
Hint: Think of the streaming service with bright green branding. Four letters, starts with H.
10D. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you"
Hint: Repeat a brief expression of agreement with a slightly impatient tone. Four letters, starts with O.
13D. Triangular part of a house's exterior
Hint: Picture the wall section beneath the meeting slopes of a pitched roof. Five letters, starts with G.
14D. "Let me repeat ..."
Hint: The speaker introduces something they have already stated, with added emphasis. Five letters, starts with I.
15D. Dressed to the ___
Hint: Complete the idiom for being dressed with exceptional elegance. Five letters, starts with N.
16D. Used a chair
Hint: Put the act of taking a seat into the past tense. Three letters, starts with S.
17D. Touchscreen array
Hint: Think of the small app symbols you tap on a phone screen. Five letters, starts with I.
18D. Destiny
Hint: Think of a future determined by forces beyond your control. Four letters, starts with F.
19D. Website for artisanal crafts
Hint: Think of the online marketplace associated with handmade goods and vintage finds. Four letters, starts with E.
23D. Large coffee holder
Hint: Picture a large beverage vessel with a serving spigot. Three letters, starts with U.
24D. Fish in a Japanese garden pond
Hint: Think of colorful ornamental carp. Three letters, starts with K.
25D. Do ___ feed the animals (sign at a zoo)
Hint: The missing word turns the feeding instruction into a prohibition. Three letters, starts with N.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Vegetable in gumbo
Answer: OKRA
5A. Tear
Answer: RIP
8A. 1989 Patrick Swayze cult film set in a rural bar
Answer: ROADHOUSE
11A. "Like we discussed earlier ..."
Answer: ASYOUKNOW
12A. Brit's bathroom
Answer: LOO
13A. Cutlery famously sold in infomercials
Answer: GINSUKNIFE
20A. Home to Thailand and Turkmenistan
Answer: ASIA
21A. Animal with a small pet door, perhaps
Answer: CAT
22A. Intricate hairstyle associated with Zulu traditions
Answer: BANTUKNOTS
26A. Commit perjury
Answer: LIE
27A. Actress Mara of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
Answer: ROONEY
28A. Singer Sheeran and actor Harris
Answer: EDS
29A. Quibbles
Answer: NITS
Down Answers
1D. "... man ___ mouse?"
Answer: ORA
2D. Boxing wins, for short
Answer: KOS
3D. Unit of sunlight
Answer: RAY
4D. Fuss
Answer: ADO
5D. Kind of sentence that should really be more than one sentence
Answer: RUNON
6D. Prefix with -metric
Answer: ISO
7D. Where churchgoers sit
Answer: PEW
9D. Big name in streaming TV
Answer: HULU
10D. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you"
Answer: OKOK
13D. Triangular part of a house's exterior
Answer: GABLE
14D. "Let me repeat ..."
Answer: ISAID
15D. Dressed to the ___
Answer: NINES
16D. Used a chair
Answer: SAT
17D. Touchscreen array
Answer: ICONS
18D. Destiny
Answer: FATE
19D. Website for artisanal crafts
Answer: ETSY
23D. Large coffee holder
Answer: URN
24D. Fish in a Japanese garden pond
Answer: KOI
25D. Do ___ feed the animals (sign at a zoo)
Answer: NOT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 13A, "Cutlery famously sold in infomercials," gives GINSU KNIFE. That specific product makes the clue work, turning a broad kitchen category into a vivid television-ad memory.
Wordplay Winner: 28A, "Singer Sheeran and actor Harris," lands on EDS. The trick is to pluralize their shared given name rather than search for a profession that fits both.
Quick Fill: 16D, "Used a chair," is the cleanest immediate fill, SAT. It supplies crossing letters to GINSU KNIFE at 13A, ASIA at 20A, and BANTU KNOTS at 22A, giving the harder long answers a useful foothold.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use the direct Down clues to build the longer Across entries. SAT, FATE, and ETSY all cross both GINSU KNIFE and BANTU KNOTS, so familiar short fills can unlock specific cultural references.
Read quoted clues aloud for their conversational tone. AS YOU KNOW, OK OK, and I SAID become easier to recognize when you hear a reminder, impatient agreement, and an emphatic repeat.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The short clues offer steady footholds while the longer answers ask for sharper recall. GINSU KNIFE gives this grid its strongest flash of recognition.
See you at the next grid.
