Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and emoji equations supply the central wordplay, surrounded by brisk trivia and clean conversational clues. Settle in for a playful grid with several satisfying visual 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: 11x11
Total Clues: 39 (17 Across, 22 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13A is the trickiest clue because its emoji equation asks you to turn optimism and a card-suit symbol into a famous jewel.
Gimme Clue: 7A is the cleanest gimme, since the song title points straight to a famous hard-rock act.
Theme Spotted: "Well-Suited"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Bear witness (to)
Hint: Think of the courtroom verb for formally declaring that something is true. Six letters, starts with A.
7A. "Back in Black" band
Hint: Angus Young's hard-rock band recorded the album in the clue. Four letters, starts with A.
11A. (American flag emoji) + (Club suit emoji) = ___?
Hint: The flag suggests a nation, while the card symbol points toward a members-only leisure venue. 11 letters, starts with C.
13A. (Crossed fingers emoji) + (Red diamond emoji) = ___?
Hint: Crossed fingers suggest optimism, and the suit symbol turns that idea into a famous blue jewel. 11 letters, starts with H.
14A. Calculation on a bank of airport monitors, for short
Hint: Airport displays use this abbreviation for the forecast of when a flight will arrive. Three letters, starts with E.
15A. Cause of worry lines, some say
Hint: Think of the mental strain commonly blamed for worry lines. Six letters, starts with S.
16A. Bio. or chem.
Hint: Use the abbreviated umbrella subject covering biology and chemistry. Three letters, starts with S.
18A. Small map on a larger map
Hint: The target is the cartographic term for a miniature panel embedded within a larger map. Five letters, starts with I.
19A. Champagne-opening sound
Hint: Listen for the short, sharp burst heard when a cork leaves a champagne bottle. Three letters, starts with P.
21A. Sports squad
Hint: Think of the collective of athletes taking the field together. Four letters, starts with T.
23A. Possible response to "Are you solving a crossword?"
Hint: Use the compact affirmative reply a speaker gives about their own activity. Three letters, starts with I.
26A. (Flower emoji) + (Spade emoji) = ___?
Hint: The planter points outdoors, while the suit symbol doubles as a digging implement. 11 letters, starts with G.
30A. (Purple heart emoji) + (Red heart emoji) = ___?
Hint: Read the square as a color and the anatomical symbol as both an organ and a military decoration. 11 letters, starts with P.
31A. Sawed logs
Hint: Interpret lumber work as a playful idiom for noisy sleep. Six letters, starts with S.
32A. "The Lion King" villain
Hint: Look to Simba's treacherous uncle in the Disney story. Four letters, starts with S.
33A. Horse's gait
Hint: This horse gait sits between a walk and a canter. Four letters, starts with T.
34A. Have to pay
Hint: Use the verb for carrying an unpaid debt. Three letters, starts with O.
Down Hints
1D. Feel a tough workout the next day
Hint: Think of the lingering soreness that follows demanding exercise. Four letters, starts with A.
2D. Gentle honks
Hint: Soft, brief sounds from a horn fit this clue. Five letters, starts with T.
3D. Rapper whose name is often stylized with a number
Hint: This is the influential West Coast rapper and actor whose stage identity is often rendered with a numeral. Five letters, starts with T.
4D. Opposite of WSW
Hint: Reverse both compass components in the given abbreviation. Three letters, starts with E.
5D. Regulations: Abbr.
Hint: Use the standard abbreviated plural for regulations or benchmarks. Four letters, starts with S.
6D. Three-sided steak cut
Hint: Think of the steak cut whose label points to its triangular end. Six letters, starts with T.
7D. High points
Hint: Use a plural noun for summits, zeniths, or peaks. Five letters, starts with A.
8D. "___ but no cigar!"
Hint: Complete the fixed expression for nearly succeeding without receiving the prize. Five letters, starts with C.
9D. Kirsten of "The Power of the Dog," 2021
Hint: Identify the actor who portrays Rose Gordon in the cited film. Five letters, starts with D.
10D. Ingredient in some edibles, for short
Hint: Use the familiar initialism for cannabidiol in infused food. Three letters, starts with C.
12D. Material of interest to a knitter or kitten
Hint: The same fiber can sit in a crafter's basket or become a kitten's toy. Four letters, starts with Y.
17D. Apple tablet with heavy-duty processing power
Hint: Choose Apple's professional tablet model built for demanding creative work. Seven letters, starts with I.
20D. Eggy breakfast
Hint: Think of the folded egg breakfast often filled with cheese or vegetables. Six letters, starts with O.
21D. Jeer
Hint: Use the verb for mocking someone in order to provoke them. Five letters, starts with T.
22D. See the ___ of your ways
Hint: The fixed phrase asks you to recognize what you did wrong. Five letters, starts with E.
23D. More or less
Hint: Think of the informal suffix that marks an approximation. Three letters, starts with I.
24D. Orangutans and bonobos
Hint: Both animals belong to the same tailless primate group. Four letters, starts with A.
25D. Chain of auto repair shops
Hint: Recall the auto-service chain known for collision work and vehicle painting. Five letters, starts with M.
26D. Navigation tool in a maps app, for short
Hint: Use the satellite-positioning abbreviation shown by map apps. Three letters, starts with G.
27D. The Dutch, on soccer scoreboards
Hint: Look for the scoreboard abbreviation assigned to the Netherlands. Three letters, starts with N.
28D. Sketch
Hint: Use the verb for making a quick pencil picture. Four letters, starts with D.
29D. French "to be"
Hint: Supply the infinitive of the basic French verb for identity or existence. Four letters, starts with E.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Bear witness (to)
Answer: ATTEST
7A. "Back in Black" band
Answer: ACDC
11A. (American flag emoji) + (Club suit emoji) = ___?
Answer: COUNTRYCLUB
13A. (Crossed fingers emoji) + (Red diamond emoji) = ___?
Answer: HOPEDIAMOND
14A. Calculation on a bank of airport monitors, for short
Answer: ETA
15A. Cause of worry lines, some say
Answer: STRESS
16A. Bio. or chem.
Answer: SCI
18A. Small map on a larger map
Answer: INSET
19A. Champagne-opening sound
Answer: POP
21A. Sports squad
Answer: TEAM
23A. Possible response to "Are you solving a crossword?"
Answer: IAM
26A. (Flower emoji) + (Spade emoji) = ___?
Answer: GARDENSPADE
30A. (Purple heart emoji) + (Red heart emoji) = ___?
Answer: PURPLEHEART
31A. Sawed logs
Answer: SNORED
32A. "The Lion King" villain
Answer: SCAR
33A. Horse's gait
Answer: TROT
34A. Have to pay
Answer: OWE
Down Answers
1D. Feel a tough workout the next day
Answer: ACHE
2D. Gentle honks
Answer: TOOTS
3D. Rapper whose name is often stylized with a number
Answer: TUPAC
4D. Opposite of WSW
Answer: ENE
5D. Regulations: Abbr.
Answer: STDS
6D. Three-sided steak cut
Answer: TRITIP
7D. High points
Answer: ACMES
8D. "___ but no cigar!"
Answer: CLOSE
9D. Kirsten of "The Power of the Dog," 2021
Answer: DUNST
10D. Ingredient in some edibles, for short
Answer: CBD
12D. Material of interest to a knitter or kitten
Answer: YARN
17D. Apple tablet with heavy-duty processing power
Answer: IPADPRO
20D. Eggy breakfast
Answer: OMELET
21D. Jeer
Answer: TAUNT
22D. See the ___ of your ways
Answer: ERROR
23D. More or less
Answer: ISH
24D. Orangutans and bonobos
Answer: APES
25D. Chain of auto repair shops
Answer: MAACO
26D. Navigation tool in a maps app, for short
Answer: GPS
27D. The Dutch, on soccer scoreboards
Answer: NED
28D. Sketch
Answer: DRAW
29D. French "to be"
Answer: ETRE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 13A, HOPE DIAMOND, defines the puzzle because the crossed-fingers symbol supplies HOPE and the card-suit symbol supplies DIAMOND, producing the proper name of the famed blue gemstone.
Wordplay Winner: 31A, SNORED, is the wordplay winner. “Sawed logs” uses the familiar image of snoring as noisy nighttime lumber work.
Quick Fill: 7A, ACDC, was the fastest confident fill because “Back in Black” points directly to the band. It immediately seeds ACMES, CLOSE, DUNST, and CBD through the crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
For emoji equations, translate each symbol independently before joining the concepts. That method unlocks COUNTRY CLUB, HOPE DIAMOND, GARDEN SPADE, and PURPLE HEART without relying on crossings alone.
Use direct trivia such as ACDC and SCAR as anchors, then let their crossing letters settle less immediate fill such as ACMES and MAACO.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid treated solvers to a clean mix of visual invention and direct clueing. HOPE DIAMOND gave the emoji device its brightest payoff.
See you at the next grid.
