Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and leans on crisp definitions, conversational phrases, a touch of music trivia, and playful clue placement. Settle in for a lively grid with several satisfying crossings.
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: 33 (16 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13A is the trickiest clue because recognizing the Fine Young Cannibals song title requires a precise piece of music trivia.
Gimme Clue: 10A is the clearest gimme, with a direct description of the tool a rower handles.
Theme Spotted: "Green Energy"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Cold weather layer
Hint: Picture the outer layer you put on before stepping into wintry weather. Four letters, starts with C.
5A. Easily movable bed
Hint: Think of simple sleeping furniture designed to be carried or relocated easily. Three letters, starts with C.
8A. What squires helped knights put on
Hint: A squire would help a knight secure this protective battle gear. Five letters, starts with A.
10A. Rower's implement
Hint: Name the long-bladed implement used to propel and steer a rowboat. Three letters, starts with O.
11A. Spice in a grinder
Hint: Look beside the salt for the seasoning commonly twisted from a grinder. Six letters, starts with P.
13A. "___ Drives Me Crazy" (Fine Young Cannibals hit)
Hint: Complete the title of the Fine Young Cannibals hit with its opening pronoun. Three letters, starts with S.
14A. "Help!"
Hint: Think of the internationally recognized distress call conveyed by the quoted cry. Three letters, starts with S.
15A. Temporary break
Hint: The clue wants a temporary pause before an activity resumes. Six letters, starts with H.
17A. Play backdrops
Hint: Picture the scenery placed behind actors during a theatrical production. Four letters, starts with S.
18A. Fantastic
Hint: Reach for an enthusiastic synonym meaning exceptionally impressive. Seven letters, starts with A.
21A. "Quiet, you!"
Hint: The quotation is a blunt command telling someone to stop talking. Five letters, starts with Z.
23A. ___ and gloom
Hint: Complete the familiar expression ending in “and gloom.” Four letters, starts with D.
25A. People put on pedestals
Hint: Think of admired figures who are figuratively elevated onto pedestals. Five letters, starts with I.
26A. "What ___ can I do?"
Hint: Complete the question by asking what other action remains available. Four letters, starts with E.
27A. Something a marathon winner runs through at the end of a race
Hint: Picture the finish-line ribbon a victorious runner breaks through. Four letters, starts with T.
28A. "That feels gooood"
Hint: Supply the drawn-out sound someone makes when experiencing relief or physical comfort. Three letters, starts with A.
Down Hints
1D. ALL ___ (FEATURE OF THIS CLUE)
Hint: The typography demonstrates the missing word, so describe the uppercase lettering itself. Four letters, starts with C.
2D. Crumbly topping for froyo
Hint: Picture crushed pieces of a chocolate sandwich cookie sprinkled over frozen yogurt. Four letters, starts with O.
3D. Electric guitar accessories
Hint: These devices boost an electric guitar's signal before sound reaches the speakers. Four letters, starts with A.
4D. Appropriate grid location for this answer
Hint: Use the entry's physical position near the grid's upper edge as the definition. Three letters, starts with T.
5D. Price
Hint: The clue seeks the amount charged for an item or service. Four letters, starts with C.
6D. Most-populous Hawaiian island
Hint: Think of the Hawaiian island containing Honolulu and Waikiki. Four letters, starts with O.
7D. Uno + dos
Hint: Translate both addends, combine them, and give the result in Spanish. Four letters, starts with T.
9D. Puts in the microwave, as leftovers
Hint: Leftovers undergo this action when they return to the microwave. Seven letters, starts with R.
12D. Cracker brand in a red box
Hint: Identify the round cracker brand associated with bright red packaging. Four letters, starts with R.
16D. Out of the way
Hint: Think of moving something away from the main path or discussion. Five letters, starts with A.
17D. Frown turned upside down
Hint: Turn the unhappy expression around and picture the cheerful facial result. Five letters, starts with S.
18D. Each
Hint: Look for a pricing phrase meaning for every item individually. Four letters, starts with A.
19D. Bourbon Street's locale, informally
Hint: Use the informal abbreviation for the Louisiana city whose French Quarter contains Bourbon Street. Four letters, starts with N.
20D. "Golly gee!"
Hint: Supply a mild exclamation of surprise matching “Golly gee!” Four letters, starts with G.
21D. Pimple
Hint: The clue describes a small inflamed blemish on the skin. Three letters, starts with Z.
22D. Civil rights leader ___ B. Wells
Hint: Recall the full name of the journalist and anti-lynching activist named in the clue, then supply the omitted part. Three letters, starts with I.
24D. "It's just so-so"
Hint: Give the short, dismissive vocal reaction used when something is merely so-so. Three letters, starts with M.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
---
---
---
---
---
Across Answers
1A. Cold weather layer
Answer: COAT
5A. Easily movable bed
Answer: COT
8A. What squires helped knights put on
Answer: ARMOR
10A. Rower's implement
Answer: OAR
11A. Spice in a grinder
Answer: PEPPER
13A. "___ Drives Me Crazy" (Fine Young Cannibals hit)
Answer: SHE
14A. "Help!"
Answer: SOS
15A. Temporary break
Answer: HIATUS
17A. Play backdrops
Answer: SETS
18A. Fantastic
Answer: AMAZING
21A. "Quiet, you!"
Answer: ZIPIT
23A. ___ and gloom
Answer: DOOM
25A. People put on pedestals
Answer: IDOLS
26A. "What ___ can I do?"
Answer: ELSE
27A. Something a marathon winner runs through at the end of a race
Answer: TAPE
28A. "That feels gooood"
Answer: AHH
Down Answers
1D. ALL ___ (FEATURE OF THIS CLUE)
Answer: CAPS
2D. Crumbly topping for froyo
Answer: OREO
3D. Electric guitar accessories
Answer: AMPS
4D. Appropriate grid location for this answer
Answer: TOP
5D. Price
Answer: COST
6D. Most-populous Hawaiian island
Answer: OAHU
7D. Uno + dos
Answer: TRES
9D. Puts in the microwave, as leftovers
Answer: REHEATS
12D. Cracker brand in a red box
Answer: RITZ
16D. Out of the way
Answer: ASIDE
17D. Frown turned upside down
Answer: SMILE
18D. Each
Answer: APOP
19D. Bourbon Street's locale, informally
Answer: NOLA
20D. "Golly gee!"
Answer: GOSH
21D. Pimple
Answer: ZIT
22D. Civil rights leader ___ B. Wells
Answer: IDA
24D. "It's just so-so"
Answer: MEH
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1D, “ALL ___ (FEATURE OF THIS CLUE),” with CAPS is the defining pair. The clue visibly appears in all capital letters, so its presentation performs its own answer.
Wordplay Winner: 4D wins the wordplay prize with TOP. The answer occupies the top portion of the grid, turning location into the clue's mechanism.
Quick Fill: OAR at 10A is the fastest confident fill because the rower's implement is unambiguous. It immediately checks COST, OAHU, and TRES at the crossings.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Bank direct object clues first, such as OAR, PEPPER, and TAPE, then use their letters to settle trivia and conversational fills.
When a clue comments on its appearance or position, inspect the grid before searching for a synonym. That visual check unlocks CAPS and TOP cleanly here.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid treated solvers fairly, balancing straightforward definitions with lively expressions and two visual nudges. CAPS delivered the sharpest payoff by making the clue itself part of the solve.
See you at the next grid.
