Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans into crisp trivia, conversational clueing, and a few sharp turns of wordplay. Settle in and enjoy the mix.
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: 30 (14 Across, 16 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 14A is the trickiest clue because its joking scapegoat points to a fictional look-alike rather than a literal culprit.
Gimme Clue: 6D is the cleanest gimme, with an iconic Genesis phrase leaving little room for doubt.
Theme Spotted: "Ballpark Figures"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. "Hold on a ___!"
Hint: Think of the clipped unit of time used in a quick request for patience. Three letters, starts with S.
4A. Welcoming neon sign at a 24-hour diner
Hint: Picture the glowing invitation displayed in a diner window around the clock. Four letters, starts with O.
8A. Hawaiian island where Obama was born
Hint: Focus on the Hawaiian island containing Honolulu and the birthplace named in the clue. Four letters, starts with O.
10A. Subterranean area
Hint: Think of a natural chamber deep underground. Four letters, starts with C.
11A. What color you might turn when embarrassed
Hint: Picture the vivid flush that spreads across a face after an embarrassing moment. Nine letters, starts with B.
13A. Tell a falsehood
Hint: Use the basic verb for making an untrue statement. Three letters, starts with L.
14A. Facetious scapegoat for a bad mistake, maybe
Hint: Blame the villainous look-alike you jokingly claim committed the blunder. Eight letters, starts with E.
19A. Secure, as a job
Hint: Think of the verb used when someone successfully gets a coveted job. Four letters, starts with L.
20A. "In or Out" singer DiFranco
Hint: Recall the folk singer behind “In or Out.” Three letters, starts with A.
21A. Navy stunt pilot
Hint: Think of a U.S. Navy precision flight demonstration pilot. Nine letters, starts with B.
23A. Canola and corn products
Hint: Canola and corn are pressed into these cooking fats. Four letters, starts with O.
24A. Yawnfest
Hint: Think of a dull event that leaves its audience yawning. Four letters, starts with B.
25A. Soaks with water
Hint: Use the verb for making something damp by applying water. Four letters, starts with W.
26A. Hill-building insects
Hint: Picture the tiny colony insects that raise mounds. Four letters, starts with A.
Down Hints
1D. Break down crying
Hint: The clue wants the verb for suddenly crying hard. Three letters, starts with S.
2D. Place for a stud or a ring
Hint: Think of the body part that holds a stud or ring. Three letters, starts with E.
3D. Life force, to an acupuncturist
Hint: Look for the traditional concept of vital energy invoked in acupuncture. Three letters, starts with C.
4D. Trio + five
Hint: Add the trio to the five, then use the musical ensemble term for that total. Five letters, starts with O.
5D. Golfer's target
Hint: Think of the benchmark score assigned to each golf hole. Three letters, starts with P.
6D. Adam and ___
Hint: Complete the famous biblical phrase from Genesis. Three letters, starts with E.
7D. "The Simpsons" neighbor Flanders
Hint: Recall the relentlessly cheerful Springfield neighbor with glasses and a mustache. Three letters, starts with N.
9D. Initial problem for a storied duckling
Hint: At the story's outset, the duckling is rejected for an unattractive quality. Eight letters, starts with U.
12D. Broom-___ (comics witch)
Hint: Complete the hyphenated name of the comic-strip witch who rides a broom. Five letters, starts with H.
14D. ___ the Elephant (New York Liberty mascot with an alliterative name)
Hint: Identify the New York Liberty's elephant mascot, whose name repeats its opening sound. Five letters, starts with E.
15D. Bank storage space with heavy security
Hint: Picture the fortified bank compartment used to protect valuables. Five letters, starts with V.
16D. Hayride vehicle
Hint: Think of the wheeled farm vehicle that carries riders on a hayride. Five letters, starts with W.
17D. Nonreactive, as some gases
Hint: Use the chemistry adjective for a substance that does not readily react. Five letters, starts with I.
18D. "Frasier" brother
Hint: Recall Frasier Crane's fussy psychiatrist brother. Five letters, starts with N.
21D. Acknowledge an ovation, in a way
Hint: Think of the stage gesture a performer makes to acknowledge applause. Three letters, starts with B.
22D. Org. that discourages traveling?
Hint: Read “traveling” as a basketball violation, then name the league behind the pun. 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. "Hold on a ___!"
Answer: SEC
4A. Welcoming neon sign at a 24-hour diner
Answer: OPEN
8A. Hawaiian island where Obama was born
Answer: OAHU
10A. Subterranean area
Answer: CAVE
11A. What color you might turn when embarrassed
Answer: BRIGHTRED
13A. Tell a falsehood
Answer: LIE
14A. Facetious scapegoat for a bad mistake, maybe
Answer: EVILTWIN
19A. Secure, as a job
Answer: LAND
20A. "In or Out" singer DiFranco
Answer: ANI
21A. Navy stunt pilot
Answer: BLUEANGEL
23A. Canola and corn products
Answer: OILS
24A. Yawnfest
Answer: BORE
25A. Soaks with water
Answer: WETS
26A. Hill-building insects
Answer: ANTS
Down Answers
1D. Break down crying
Answer: SOB
2D. Place for a stud or a ring
Answer: EAR
3D. Life force, to an acupuncturist
Answer: CHI
4D. Trio + five
Answer: OCTET
5D. Golfer's target
Answer: PAR
6D. Adam and ___
Answer: EVE
7D. "The Simpsons" neighbor Flanders
Answer: NED
9D. Initial problem for a storied duckling
Answer: UGLINESS
12D. Broom-___ (comics witch)
Answer: HILDA
14D. ___ the Elephant (New York Liberty mascot with an alliterative name)
Answer: ELLIE
15D. Bank storage space with heavy security
Answer: VAULT
16D. Hayride vehicle
Answer: WAGON
17D. Nonreactive, as some gases
Answer: INERT
18D. "Frasier" brother
Answer: NILES
21D. Acknowledge an ovation, in a way
Answer: BOW
22D. Org. that discourages traveling?
Answer: NBA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 14A, “Facetious scapegoat for a bad mistake, maybe,” lands on EVIL TWIN. It works because the clue turns a stock fictional double into a playful excuse for personal failure.
Wordplay Winner: 22D wins the wordplay prize with NBA. “Traveling” looks like ordinary movement until the question mark redirects it to the basketball violation policed by that league.
Quick Fill: OPEN is the fastest confident fill because the diner sign is instantly recognizable. Its crossings anchor OCTET, PAR, EVE, and NED across the upper-right corner.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank the direct short fills first, then let OPEN, OAHU, and CAVE settle the compact upper entries through crossings.
When a clue sounds playfully implausible, change the sense of its key word. That move unlocks EVIL TWIN at 14A and the traveling joke that produces NBA at 22D.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid treated solvers fairly, pairing sturdy trivia with just enough misdirection to keep the fill lively. EVIL TWIN supplied the memorable punch line.
See you at the next grid.
