Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Monday's grid packs a Britney Spears earworm, a power-couple theme, and an AC/DC payoff that rewards solvers who stick with it. 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: 28 (14 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Highway to Hell" band ... or a hint to the "power couples" inside 11- and 24-Across, the band answer is straightforward, but the meta-hint about "power couples" in the long across entries is what makes this the puzzle's centerpiece.
Gimme Clue: "Right away!", one of the most common crossword abbreviations, instantly recognizable.
Theme Spotted: "Power Couples"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. "___! ... I Did It Again" (Britney Spears hit)
Hint: Britney's 2000 smash. Four letters, starts with O. Think "whoops" but spelled with two O's.
5. Strike zone assessors
Hint: Baseball officials who call balls and strikes. Four letters, starts with U.
9. Study for the SAT, say
Hint: What students do before standardized tests. Four letters, starts with P.
10. Brand of party cups used in flip cup
Hint: The red plastic cup synonymous with college parties. Four letters, starts with S.
11. Stayed chill
Hint: Kept one's cool under pressure. Eight letters, starts with A. Contains a hidden "power couple."
13. Tattoo removal option
Hint: A medical procedure using concentrated light. Five letters, starts with L.
14. Go blond, perhaps
Hint: What you do to your hair at a salon. Three letters, starts with D.
15. Flow barrier
Hint: A structure built across a river. Three letters, starts with D.
17. Enjoyed an 18-Down, say
Hint: Past tense of consume. Three letters, starts with A.
20. What two fingers up might symbolize
Hint: A universal gesture for harmony. Five letters, starts with P.
24. Concept that's above criticism, metaphorically
Hint: An untouchable idea or institution. Eight letters, starts with S. Contains another hidden "power couple."
26. Potential post-exercise symptom
Hint: Soreness after a workout. Four letters, starts with A.
27. Not busy
Hint: Free, available, having nothing scheduled. Four letters, starts with I.
28. [Just like that ... it's gone!]
Hint: A sound effect for disappearing. Four letters, starts with P.
29. Makes a scene?
Hint: Performs on stage, or causes a commotion. Four letters, starts with A.
Down Hints
1. October birthstone
Hint: A gemstone that shifts color depending on the light. Four letters, starts with O.
2. Shamu, for one
Hint: A black-and-white marine mammal. Four letters, starts with O.
3. Nonhuman family members
Hint: Cats, dogs, hamsters, the furry ones. Four letters, starts with P.
4. Go 90 in a 65, say
Hint: Exceeding the posted limit on the highway. Five letters, starts with S.
5. L.A. school with a Cinematic Arts department
Hint: A prestigious university in Los Angeles. Three letters, starts with U.
6. Aura
Hint: The vibe or atmosphere of a place. Four letters, starts with M.
7. Scheme
Hint: A crafty plan or strategy. Four letters, starts with P.
8. Part of a shoe that gets worn down
Hint: The bottom of your footwear. Four letters, starts with S.
12. Arrange, as a shawl
Hint: To hang or place fabric gracefully. Five letters, starts with D.
16. ___ training (P.R. work for celebrities)
Hint: The industry that handles how stars appear in public. Five letters, starts with M.
17. "Right away!"
Hint: The urgent acronym for "as soon as possible." Four letters, starts with A.
18. Item topped with salsa and guacamole, maybe
Hint: A handheld Mexican dish. Four letters, starts with T.
19. Audio issue on Zoom call
Hint: When your voice bounces back at you. Four letters, starts with E.
21. "Highway to Hell" band ... or a hint to the "power couples" inside 11- and 24-Across
Hint: Australian rock legends. Four letters, starts with A. Also a clue about two-letter pairs hiding in the long across entries.
22. N.F.L. athlete whose helmet features a horseshoe
Hint: Indianapolis's team. Four letters, starts with C.
23. Female sheep
Hint: The plural of a woolly farm animal. Four letters, starts with E.
25. Game official, for short
Hint: The person with the whistle. Three letters, starts with R.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. "___! ... I Did It Again" (Britney Spears hit)
Answer: OOPS
5. Strike zone assessors
Answer: UMPS
9. Study for the SAT, say
Answer: PREP
10. Brand of party cups used in flip cup
Answer: SOLO
11. Stayed chill
Answer: ACTEDCOOL
13. Tattoo removal option
Answer: LASER
14. Go blond, perhaps
Answer: DYE
15. Flow barrier
Answer: DAM
17. Enjoyed an 18-Down, say
Answer: ATE
20. What two fingers up might symbolize
Answer: PEACE
24. Concept that's above criticism, metaphorically
Answer: SACREDCOW
26. Potential post-exercise symptom
Answer: ACHE
27. Not busy
Answer: IDLE
28. [Just like that ... it's gone!]
Answer: POOF
29. Makes a scene?
Answer: ACTS
Down Answers
1. October birthstone
Answer: OPAL
2. Shamu, for one
Answer: ORCA
3. Nonhuman family members
Answer: PETS
4. Go 90 in a 65, say
Answer: SPEED
5. L.A. school with a Cinematic Arts department
Answer: USC
6. Aura
Answer: MOOD
7. Scheme
Answer: PLOY
8. Part of a shoe that gets worn down
Answer: SOLE
12. Arrange, as a shawl
Answer: DRAPE
16. ___ training (P.R. work for celebrities)
Answer: MEDIA
17. "Right away!"
Answer: ASAP
18. Item topped with salsa and guacamole, maybe
Answer: TACO
19. Audio issue on Zoom call
Answer: ECHO
21. "Highway to Hell" band ... or a hint to the "power couples" inside 11- and 24-Across
Answer: ACDC
22. N.F.L. athlete whose helmet features a horseshoe
Answer: COLT
23. Female sheep
Answer: EWES
25. Game official, for short
Answer: REF
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Highway to Hell" band ... or a hint to the "power couples" inside 11- and 24-Across (21D) for ACDC. The clue works on two levels: the obvious band answer, and the meta-instruction that reveals the theme. ACTEDCOOL and SACREDCOW each contain AC and DC consecutively, a "power couple" of letters that spells out the band's name. That's a Monday-level reveal done right.
Wordplay Winner: "Makes a scene?" (29A) for ACTS. The question mark signals wordplay: ACTS can mean performing on stage (making a theatrical scene) or causing a commotion (making a literal scene). A clean bit of misdirection.
Quick Fill: "Right away!" (17D) for ASAP. Crossword staple, zero ambiguity, and it helps anchor the upper-right corner.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for rebus-adjacent themes in standard grids. Today's "power couples" trick, hiding AC and DC inside longer entries, is a common NYT device. Once you spot the pattern in 11-Across, 24-Across and 21-Down fall into place immediately.
Short fill entries are your best friends in a 9x9 grid. SOLO, DYE, DAM, ATE, ACHE, IDLE, POOF, ACTS, these three- and four-letter words create the scaffolding that makes the longer theme entries solvable. Fill in the short stuff first to reveal crossing letters.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The AC/DC theme gave Monday solvers a satisfying mid-puzzle "aha" moment that's usually reserved for later in the week. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
