Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Monday's grid brings a clean, fast solve packed with pop culture nods and satisfying wordplay. At 9x10 with 27 total clues, this puzzle rewards solvers who trust their instincts on short fill and know a few niche references.
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: 9x10
Total Clues: 27 (13 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 13A. "Alysa ___", requires knowing the name of a U.S. figure skating champion
Gimme Clue: 8D. "Substance now fully legal for recreational use in 24 U.S. states", three letters, one obvious answer
Theme Spotted: "Seedy Business"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Not feeling 100%
Hint: Four letters. Under the weather. Starts with S.
5. ___lash
Hint: A witty comeback. Starts with Q.
9. Ctrl-Z action
Hint: The keyboard shortcut for reversing your last mistake. Four letters.
10. "Hmm ... I think I'll pass"
Hint: A four-letter dismissal. Combines a sound of hesitation with a rejection.
11. Part of a Harry Houdini performance
Hint: Nine letters. The grand finale where the magician breaks free from restraints.
13. Alysa ___
Hint: American figure skater who competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Three letters.
14. Budget-friendly grub
Hint: Nine letters. Affordable dining options. Two words.
20. Propeller in a galley
Hint: Three letters. What rowers use to move a boat.
21. Spit bars
Hint: Three letters. What a freestyle MC does in a cypher.
22. "Hold your horses!"
Hint: Four letters. An exclamation meaning "slow down!" Starts with W.
24. "To thine own ___ be true"
Hint: Four letters. From Shakespeare's Hamlet, Polonius's advice to Laertes.
25. "While supplies last!," e.g.
Hint: Six letters. The language of advertising and sales pitches.
27. Brings in
Hint: Five letters. What a job does, income. Starts with E.
28. Certain audio download, casually
Hint: Three letters. Short for podcast or a digital audio player.
Down Hints
1. Un-settle?
Hint: Three letters. What you do to someone in court. Starts with S.
2. ___ and outs
Hint: Three letters. The finer details of a process. Starts with I.
3. U.S. public health org.
Hint: Three letters. The Atlanta-based federal agency that tracks diseases.
4. Australian mammal often mislabeled as a bear
Hint: Five letters. A marsupial that eats eucalyptus. Not actually a bear.
5. Line
Hint: Five letters. What you stand in at the grocery store. British spelling works here.
6. Actress Thurman
Hint: Three letters. Star of "Kill Bill" and "Pulp Fiction." First name.
7. L.L.C. alternative
Hint: Three letters. A type of business entity. Abbreviation.
8. Substance now fully legal for recreational use in 24 U.S. states
Hint: Three letters. Cannabis. Starts with P.
12. Dot on a die
Hint: Three letters. Each face of a standard die has a different number of these.
14. Animal on a dairy farm
Hint: Three letters. Produces milk. Starts with C.
15. "LOL!"
Hint: Four letters. Text-speak for uncontrollable laughter.
16. Wear away, as soil
Hint: Five letters. What wind and water do to the earth's surface over time.
17. Locales
Hint: Five letters. Places or locations. Starts with A.
18. Word after dirty, baby or empty
Hint: Four letters. A kind of conversation or speech. Starts with T.
19. Tanning lotion inits.
Hint: Three letters. The abbreviation for sun protection factor.
23. "Right now!"
Hint: Four letters. An acronym for urgency in emails and texts.
24. Button a texter may regret pressing accidentally
Hint: Four letters. The button that fires off a message before it's ready.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Not feeling 100%
Answer: SICK
5. ___lash
Answer: QUIP
9. Ctrl-Z action
Answer: UNDO
10. "Hmm ... I think I'll pass"
Answer: UMNO
11. Part of a Harry Houdini performance
Answer: ESCAPEACT
13. Alysa ___
Answer: LIU
14. Budget-friendly grub
Answer: CHEAPEATS
20. Propeller in a galley
Answer: OAR
21. Spit bars
Answer: RAP
22. "Hold your horses!"
Answer: WHOA
24. "To thine own ___ be true"
Answer: SELF
25. "While supplies last!," e.g.
Answer: ADSPEAK
27. Brings in
Answer: EARNS
28. Certain audio download, casually
Answer: POD
Down Answers
1. Un-settle?
Answer: SUE
2. ___ and outs
Answer: INS
3. U.S. public health org.
Answer: CDC
4. Australian mammal often mislabeled as a bear
Answer: KOALA
5. Line
Answer: QUEUE
6. Actress Thurman
Answer: UMA
7. L.L.C. alternative
Answer: INC
8. Substance now fully legal for recreational use in 24 U.S. states
Answer: POT
12. Dot on a die
Answer: PIP
14. Animal on a dairy farm
Answer: COW
15. "LOL!"
Answer: HAHA
16. Wear away, as soil
Answer: ERODE
17. Locales
Answer: AREAS
18. Word after dirty, baby or empty
Answer: TALK
19. Tanning lotion inits.
Answer: SPF
23. "Right now!"
Answer: ASAP
24. Button a texter may regret pressing accidentally
Answer: SEND
Grid Breakdown
Standout Clue: 13A. "Alysa ___" for LIU. The 2022 Olympian and U.S. figure skating champion is a relatively deep pull for a Monday puzzle. Solvers who blanked on this one likely filled it in from the crossing of 8D (POT) and 12D (PIP).
Wordplay Winner: 1D. "Un-settle?" for SUE. The question mark signals wordplay, "settle" as in resolving a dispute out of court, so "un-settle" means the opposite: file a lawsuit. Clean, clever misdirection that rewards reading clues carefully.
Quick Fill: 8D. "Substance now fully legal for recreational use in 24 U.S. states" for POT. Three letters, instantly recognizable, and a clue that tells you everything you need to know.
Speed Solver Tips
Watch for question marks in clues. Today's grid uses them sparingly, only at 1D, but that punctuation is the NYT's signal for wordplay or a pun. Miss it and you might overthink a simple answer.
Short fill crosses are your best friends on a Monday. If 21A (RAP) intersects 5D (QUEUE), the crossing letters at Q, U, and E help lock in the trickier spellings. Trust the grid architecture to fill the gaps.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the Houdini reference at 11A and the Shakespeare quote at 24A, this Monday solve balanced pop culture with classic crossword staples. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
