Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Friday's grid packs a thematic surprise with circled letters forming BABYBUMPS. The 9x9 puzzle balances pop culture, wordplay, and a clever visual gimmick that rewards patient solvers. 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: 9x9
Total Clues: 23 (13 Across, 10 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 17A "German sausage", nine letters with no obvious shortcuts
Gimme Clue: 12A "What a dog buries ... or a paleontologist digs up", a dual-definition gimme
Theme Spotted: "Full of Life"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Secretly loops in on an email
Hint: Four letters. The carbon copy's quieter cousin. Ends with an S.
5. Swindle
Hint: Four letters. Rhymes with "milk" but means to cheat someone out of money.
9. "Bloody" steakhouse order
Hint: Four letters. The least cooked option on the menu.
10. "You can say that again!"
Hint: Four letters. What you say at the end of a prayer. Starts with A.
11. Aid and ___
Hint: Four letters. Legal term for helping someone commit a crime. Rhymes with "debt."
12. What a dog buries ... or a paleontologist digs up
Hint: Four letters. Dogs love them. Skeletons are made of them.
13. "Man, that hurts!"
Hint: Three letters. A short cry of pain. Starts with Y, ends with W.
14. Up to this point
Hint: Five letters. Two words, no spaces. "As of ___."
15. Poisonous African snake
Hint: Five letters. Kobe Bryant's nickname came from this animal. Fast and deadly.
17. German sausage
Hint: Nine letters. A grilled stadium staple. Starts with BRAT, ends with WURST.
21. It's the "new oil," per mathematician Clive Humby
Hint: Four letters. Tech companies collect it. Cambridge Analytica abused it. Starts with D.
22. Sulk
Hint: Four letters. To pout and brood. Rhymes with "hope."
23. Tucked in for the night, quaintly
Hint: Four letters. Old-timey way to say "in bed." Starts with A.
24. Intend (to)
Hint: Four letters. To scheme or prepare. Rhymes with "man."
25. "Da," in Russian or Romanian
Hint: Three letters. The opposite of "nyet." Starts with Y.
26. Sneaky
Hint: Three letters. Fox-like. Starts with S, ends with Y.
Down Hints
1. Donkey's sound
Hint: Four letters. Animal noise. Starts with B, ends with Y.
2. Mexican spring break destination, familiarly
Hint: Four letters. Beach town at the tip of Baja California. Starts with C.
3. Colleagues on a spacecraft or airplane
Hint: Nine letters. Shipmates, but for the skies. Two words, one compound.
4. ___ the record straight
Hint: Three letters. To correct a misunderstanding. Starts with S.
5. Indicators of pregnancy ... and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters (and shape!)
Hint: Nine letters. Two words. The visual theme of today's grid. Starts with BABY.
6. "Nothing can stop me now!"
Hint: Nine letters. Five syllables of unstoppable confidence. Starts with IMONA.
7. Onetime late-night host Jay
Hint: Four letters. The Tonight Show legend. Last name only.
8. Had down pat
Hint: Four letters. Past tense of "to know." Starts with K.
14. Pricey German car
Hint: Three letters. The Ultimate Driving Machine. Starts with B.
16. The slightest amount
Hint: Four letters. The smallest unit of matter. Starts with A.
17. Time to make a yearly wish, informally
Hint: Four letters. Short for birthday. Starts with B.
18. Broccoli ___
Hint: Four letters. Leafy green vegetable often paired with garlic. Starts with R.
19. Fix, as a female pet
Hint: Four letters. Veterinary procedure. Rhymes with "clay."
20. Number of years Odysseus fought in the Trojan War
Hint: Three letters. A decade. Starts with T.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Secretly loops in on an email
Answer: BCCS
5. Swindle
Answer: BILK
9. "Bloody" steakhouse order
Answer: RARE
10. "You can say that again!"
Answer: AMEN
11. Aid and ___
Answer: ABET
12. What a dog buries ... or a paleontologist digs up
Answer: BONE
13. "Man, that hurts!"
Answer: YOW
14. Up to this point
Answer: BYNOW
15. Poisonous African snake
Answer: MAMBA
17. German sausage
Answer: BRATWURST
21. It's the "new oil," per mathematician Clive Humby
Answer: DATA
22. Sulk
Answer: MOPE
23. Tucked in for the night, quaintly
Answer: ABED
24. Intend (to)
Answer: PLAN
25. "Da," in Russian or Romanian
Answer: YES
26. Sneaky
Answer: SLY
Down Answers
1. Donkey's sound
Answer: BRAY
2. Mexican spring break destination, familiarly
Answer: CABO
3. Colleagues on a spacecraft or airplane
Answer: CREWMATES
4. ___ the record straight
Answer: SET
5. Indicators of pregnancy ... and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters (and shape!)
Answer: BABYBUMPS
6. "Nothing can stop me now!"
Answer: IMONAROLL
7. Onetime late-night host Jay
Answer: LENO
8. Had down pat
Answer: KNEW
14. Pricey German car
Answer: BMW
16. The slightest amount
Answer: ATOM
17. Time to make a yearly wish, informally
Answer: BDAY
18. Broccoli ___
Answer: RABE
19. Fix, as a female pet
Answer: SPAY
20. Number of years Odysseus fought in the Trojan War
Answer: TEN
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 5D "Indicators of pregnancy ... and a hint to this puzzle's circled letters (and shape!)" for BABYBUMPS. The clue itself tells you there's a visual gimmick in the grid, and the answer doubles as both a definition and a meta-instruction. That's elegant construction.
Wordplay Winner: 12A "What a dog buries ... or a paleontologist digs up" for BONE. The dual-definition trick works perfectly: same word, two completely different contexts, both equally valid. The solver's "aha" moment hits twice.
Quick Fill: 13A "Man, that hurts!" for YOW. Three letters, phonetic spelling of a yelp. Zero ambiguity. A gift from the constructor to get you moving.
Speed Solver Tips
When a clue mentions "circled letters" or "shape," scan the grid for visual patterns before filling anything. The constructor is giving you a roadmap. BABYBUMPS at 5D is the key that unlocks the theme, and knowing it early helps confirm surrounding entries like BRAY, CABO, and CREWMATES.
Watch for dual-definition clues like 12A's BONE. When a clue has two distinct meanings separated by "or," the answer is almost always a common word that works in both contexts. Fill these immediately. They rarely have tricks beyond the surface.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The BABYBUMPS visual theme made this Friday puzzle more playful than punishing. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
