Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Friday's grid brings a satisfying 10x11 mix of pop culture references, wordplay, and one long answer that'll make you feel like a champion. Whether you're looking for a mid-length challenge or warming up for the full-size puzzle, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
How The Midi Works
The Midi is the middle ground between the Mini and the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring an 8x10 or 9x11 grid with 15-20 Across and 15-20 Down clues. It takes about 5-15 minutes to solve, making it perfect for a coffee break or commute. 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: 10x11
Total Clues: 43 (21 Across, 22 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio ___ Bad Bunny" (32A), requires knowing the rapper's birth name
Gimme Clue: "Panther or puma" (34A), CAT is a three-letter gimme
Theme Spotted: "Hide Your Tears"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Somersaults
Hint: Gymnasts do these. Five letters, starts with F.
6. Looped into an email surreptitiously
Hint: The sneaky email CC. Four letters, starts with B.
11. Bedding material
Hint: A natural fiber often used for sheets. Five letters, starts with L.
12. "Hey, ___, what's the answer to 12-Across in today's Midi?"
Hint: Ask your smart speaker. Five letters, starts with A.
13. Game show host
Hint: The person holding the microphone on stage. Five letters, starts with E.
14. One seeing to piano repairs
Hint: This person keeps the ivories in tune. Five letters, starts with T.
15. "Things look great for us once again!"
Hint: A comeback phrase. Four words, 12 letters total.
17. Red wine choice, familiarly
Hint: A Zinfandel shorthand. Three letters.
18. Cafe that might serve macchiatos and cortados
Hint: Not just coffee, the coffee. Two words, 11 letters.
26. Product from Adidas or Asics
Hint: What you put on your feet. Four letters.
27. Painter Magritte
Hint: The surrealist known for "The Son of Man." Four letters.
28. Musical group with steel pans and bongos
Hint: Caribbean rhythms. Two words, 11 letters.
32. Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio ___ Bad Bunny
Hint: Also known as. Three letters.
33. Printer supply
Hint: What runs out at the worst possible moment. Three letters.
34. Panther or puma
Hint: A big feline. Three letters.
35. Calligrapher's tool
Hint: Ink-based writing instrument. Three letters.
36. Road paving goo
Hint: Black, sticky, used on asphalt. Three letters.
37. ___ Miss (S.E.C. team)
Hint: University of Mississippi. Three letters.
38. What a long meeting never seems to do
Hint: It just keeps going. Three letters.
39. Place for a massage
Hint: Relaxation destination. Three letters.
40. Govt. org for cyber threat analysts
Hint: Three-letter intelligence agency.
Down Hints
1. Soared
Hint: Like a bird in the sky. Four letters, starts with F.
2. Light green shade
Hint: The color of a certain citrus fruit. Four letters.
3. Early builder of Machu Picchu
Hint: An ancient civilization from the Andes. Four letters.
4. Look curiously
Hint: Take a close, squinty look. Four letters.
5. Reason to say "Bless you!"
Hint: A sudden, involuntary burst. Six letters.
6. Things held by relay race runners and maestros
Hint: Passed from hand to hand, or used to conduct. Six letters.
7. Alternative to ♠, ♥ or ♦, in a deck of cards
Hint: The third suit. Four letters.
8. John ___, W.W.E. wrestler-turned-actor
Hint: "You can't see me." Four letters.
9. C-suite member
Hint: Chief officer. Four letters.
10. Unlit
Hint: Without light. Four letters.
16. Family nickname
Hint: Short for sister. Three letters.
18. Compact Ford S.U.V.
Hint: It's in the Ford lineup. Six letters.
19. How 007 likes his martinis
Hint: Not stirred. Six letters.
20. Warsaw is its capital
Hint: A European country. Six letters.
21. Singer Lana Del ___
Hint: Three letters, a homophone for "ray."
22. Shape of a gumball
Hint: A sphere. Three letters.
23. Light in a lighthouse
Hint: A guiding signal. Six letters.
24. Historical records
Hint: Year-by-year accounts. Six letters.
25. Colorful caffeine-free brew
Hint: Herbal tea with a color in its name. Two words, 7 letters.
29. Painful things to bite into in cherries
Hint: The hard center. Four letters.
30. "___, crackle, pop"
Hint: Rice Krispies sound. Four letters.
31. Pod vegetable in Creole cuisine
Hint: Slimy but delicious. Four letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Somersaults
Answer: FLIPS
6. Looped into an email surreptitiously
Answer: BCCED
11. Bedding material
Answer: LINEN
12. "Hey, ___, what's the answer to 12-Across in today's Midi?"
Answer: ALEXA
13. Game show host
Answer: EMCEE
14. One seeing to piano repairs
Answer: TUNER
15. "Things look great for us once again!"
Answer: WE ARE SO BACK
17. Red wine choice, familiarly
Answer: ZIN
18. Cafe that might serve macchiatos and cortados
Answer: ESPRESSO BAR
26. Product from Adidas or Asics
Answer: SHOE
27. Painter Magritte
Answer: RENE
28. Musical group with steel pans and bongos
Answer: CALYPSO BAND
32. Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio ___ Bad Bunny
Answer: AKA
33. Printer supply
Answer: INK
34. Panther or puma
Answer: CAT
35. Calligrapher's tool
Answer: PEN
36. Road paving goo
Answer: TAR
37. ___ Miss (S.E.C. team)
Answer: OLE
38. What a long meeting never seems to do
Answer: END
39. Place for a massage
Answer: SPA
40. Govt. org for cyber threat analysts
Answer: NSA
Down Answers
1. Soared
Answer: FLEW
2. Light green shade
Answer: LIME
3. Early builder of Machu Picchu
Answer: INCA
4. Look curiously
Answer: PEER
5. Reason to say "Bless you!"
Answer: SNEEZE
6. Things held by relay race runners and maestros
Answer: BATONS
7. Alternative to ♠, ♥ or ♦, in a deck of cards
Answer: CLUB
8. John ___, W.W.E. wrestler-turned-actor
Answer: CENA
9. C-suite member
Answer: EXEC
10. Unlit
Answer: DARK
16. Family nickname
Answer: SIS
18. Compact Ford S.U.V.
Answer: ESCAPE
19. How 007 likes his martinis
Answer: SHAKEN
20. Warsaw is its capital
Answer: POLAND
21. Singer Lana Del ___
Answer: REY
22. Shape of a gumball
Answer: ORB
23. Light in a lighthouse
Answer: BEACON
24. Historical records
Answer: ANNALS
25. Colorful caffeine-free brew
Answer: RED TEA
29. Painful things to bite into in cherries
Answer: PITS
30. "___, crackle, pop"
Answer: SNAP
31. Pod vegetable in Creole cuisine
Answer: OKRA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Things look great for us once again!" (15A) for WE ARE SO BACK. The longest answer in the grid and a perfect encapsulation of internet-era optimism. It's the kind of phrase that feels instantly recognizable without being cliche.
Wordplay Winner: "Looped into an email surreptitiously" (6A) for BCCED. The clue leans into the tech vocabulary that NYT puzzles love, "looped in" as a synonym for CC'd, with the "surreptitiously" pointing to the blind carbon copy. Clean and precise.
Quick Fill: "Panther or puma" (34A) for CAT. A three-letter gimme that intersects with multiple answers, making it a great early solve to open up the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Three-letter answers dominate the lower half of this grid (ZIN, INK, CAT, PEN, TAR, OLE, END, SPA). When you see short blanks clustered together, start with the most obvious one, CAT or PEN, and let the cross letters fill the rest.
Friday puzzles often lean into pop culture. If you hit a name clue like "Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio" (32A), scan for the abbreviation AKA before overthinking it. The same logic applies to RENE (Magritte) and REY (Lana Del Rey), trust the short answers to unlock the longer ones.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? That WE ARE SO BACK answer at 15A is a tough one to beat for pure satisfaction. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
