Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Friday's grid packs 27 clues into a tight 9x9 layout with a clever "SIDEHUGS" theme running through the circled letters. A mix of pop culture references, crossword staples, and one very specific Aladdin deep cut keeps things interesting.
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: 9x9
Total Clues: 27 (13 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Movie character who sings 'Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three'" Specific lyric recall from Disney's Aladdin separates solvers from answer-checkers.
Gimme Clue: "Gaming company that created Pong." A founding name in video game history that's been a crossword staple for decades.
Theme Spotted: "The Friend Zone"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Sport in a cage, for short
Hint: Three letters. Think octagon, not a literal cage. The initials spell it out.
4A. Prepare for a filling, as a tooth
Hint: Four letters. What the dentist does before drilling. Starts with N.
8A. Bit of an apple crisp topping
Hint: Three letters. Rolled grain, often found in granola.
9A. "Hello," in Mandarin
Hint: Five letters. A common greeting. Ni-___.
10A. "Let You Love Me" singer Rita ___
Hint: Three letters. British singer, short surname. Think gemstone.
11A. Creative spark, in slang
Hint: Five letters. Short for inspiration. Starts with IN.
12A. Uncompromising
Hint: Six letters. Strict, no-nonsense. Rhymes with "strict."
14A. Casual embraces between friends ... and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters
Hint: Seven letters. One-arm hugs. Starts with S.
18A. Cry from an exasperated teacher
Hint: Six letters. "Will you please ___!" A classroom classic.
19A. Lukewarm
Hint: Five letters. Neither hot nor cold. Starts with T.
22A. Card game with Draw cards
Hint: Three letters. Colorful card game where +4 means war.
23A. Quarterback's protectors, for short
Hint: Five letters. The big guys up front. Abbreviated.
24A. 2016 Summer Olympics host, informally
Hint: Three letters. Brazilian city, short version.
25A. Alpha's counterpart
Hint: Five letters. Last letter of the Greek alphabet.
26A. Ping-Pong table divider
Hint: Three letters. The mesh in the middle of the table.
Down Hints
1D. Sounds on a dairy farm
Hint: Four letters. Cows make this sound.
2D. Small shops
Hint: Five letters. Think convenience stores. Ends with S.
3D. Gaming company that created Pong
Hint: Five letters. 1970s arcade pioneer. Starts with A.
4D. Portions equal to roughly 11%
Hint: Six letters. One of nine equal parts.
5D. Some verbal stumbles
Hint: Three letters. Filler sounds when you're unsure what to say.
6D. Treasure hunt guide
Hint: Three letters. Shows you where X marks the spot.
7D. Sound from a playful ghost
Hint: Three letters. Classic spooky greeting.
9D. "I really like that thought"
Hint: Four letters. "That's ___!" Positive affirmation.
13D. Wasting gas while parked
Hint: Five letters. Engine running, car not moving. Starts with I.
15D. Maneuver on a dead-end street
Hint: Five letters. Three-point something. Starts with U.
16D. Movie character who sings "Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three"
Hint: Five letters. The lamp-dwelling character from Disney's Aladdin.
17D. Person with airs of superiority
Hint: Five letters. Stuck-up type. Rhymes with "boot."
19D. Overly
Hint: Three letters. "___ much." Starts with T.
20D. West ___
Hint: Three letters. Tree name. "___ Street." Starts with E.
21D. Dessert enjoyed on March 14, fittingly
Hint: Three letters. Pi Day's official dessert.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Sport in a cage, for short
Answer: MMA
4A. Prepare for a filling, as a tooth
Answer: NUMB
8A. Bit of an apple crisp topping
Answer: OAT
9A. "Hello," in Mandarin
Answer: NIHAO
10A. "Let You Love Me" singer Rita ___
Answer: ORA
11A. Creative spark, in slang
Answer: INSPO
12A. Uncompromising
Answer: STRICT
14A. Casual embraces between friends ... and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters
Answer: SIDEHUGS
18A. Cry from an exasperated teacher
Answer: LISTEN
19A. Lukewarm
Answer: TEPID
22A. Card game with Draw cards
Answer: UNO
23A. Quarterback's protectors, for short
Answer: OLINE
24A. 2016 Summer Olympics host, informally
Answer: RIO
25A. Alpha's counterpart
Answer: OMEGA
26A. Ping-Pong table divider
Answer: NET
Down Answers
1D. Sounds on a dairy farm
Answer: MOOS
2D. Small shops
Answer: MARTS
3D. Gaming company that created Pong
Answer: ATARI
4D. Portions equal to roughly 11%
Answer: NINTHS
5D. Some verbal stumbles
Answer: UHS
6D. Treasure hunt guide
Answer: MAP
7D. Sound from a playful ghost
Answer: BOO
9D. "I really like that thought"
Answer: NICE
13D. Wasting gas while parked
Answer: IDLING
15D. Maneuver on a dead-end street
Answer: UTURN
16D. Movie character who sings "Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three"
Answer: GENIE
17D. Person with airs of superiority
Answer: SNOOT
19D. Overly
Answer: TOO
20D. West ___
Answer: ELM
21D. Dessert enjoyed on March 14, fittingly
Answer: PIE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 16D "Movie character who sings 'Mister Aladdin, sir, have a wish or two or three'" for GENIE. The full lyric quote from Disney's Aladdin makes this a knowledge check that rewards musical memory. If you can't hear Robin Williams in your head, you're reaching for crosses.
Wordplay Winner: 4D "Portions equal to roughly 11%" for NINTHS. Math-based cluing that avoids the obvious "one of nine" phrasing. The 11% approximation is the kind of indirect approach that makes Friday puzzles satisfying.
Quick Fill: 7D "Sound from a playful ghost" for BOO. Three letters, instantly recognizable, and a classic crossword gimme that helps anchor the top-left corner.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Short across entries like OAT (8A), ORA (10A), and UNO (22A) create quick anchors. Fill those in first to expose crossing down clues. The three-letter words are your scaffolding.
Watch for theme clues with parenthetical notes. The "hint to this puzzle's circled letters" tag on 14A signals a meta-puzzle layer. Solving SIDEHUGS early unlocks the circled-letter pattern running through the grid.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the Aladdin lyric deep cut, the SIDEHUGS theme, and the Greek-letter pairing of ALPHA and OMEGA, Friday served a balanced challenge. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
