Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings a cheeky "so lit!" theme that turns internet slang into clever compound-word answers. With a compact 9x9 layout and 30 clues across pop culture, mythology, and wordplay, this puzzle rewards solvers who can think both literally and figuratively.
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: 30 (13 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 26A "River of the underworld, in Greek myth." Requires mythology knowledge most solvers haven't touched since high school.
Gimme Clue: 5A "Purring pet." Three letters, obvious, and a gift of a starter entry.
Theme Spotted: "They're Lit!"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Furry red monster on TV
Hint: This Sesame Street resident loves cookies and lives in a trash can. Four letters.
5. Purring pet
Hint: Three letters. Thinks it owns the house. Probably right.
8. Tilt
Hint: Not quite standing straight. Can describe a building in Pisa or a political bias.
9. Part in a play, or word that comes before play
Hint: Every actor has one. Also a function in a tabletop game.
10. "The sides of your room are so lit!"
Hint: A computer security term + walls. The answer is a compound word that sounds like it describes blazing drywall.
12. "The game is ___"
Hint: A word meaning "in progress" or "stirring." Often used in mystery novels.
13. "Those large folklore characters are so lit!"
Hint: Planets made of gas + giants. Sounds like burning mythological beings, but it's astronomy.
17. Disney princess who uses a fork to comb her hair
Hint: Red hair, sings about wanting more, lives under the sea.
18. "Your high-fives are always so lit!"
Hint: Slang for "cool" + a type of hit. A compound word that could describe an awesome smack.
23. Drains, as energy
Hint: Four letters. Running a marathon does this to your stamina.
24. Natural hairstyle
Hint: Four letters. A curly, voluminous style often worn naturally.
25. Bread for a pastrami sandwich
Hint: Three letters. Dark bread, often with caraway seeds, essential for a classic deli order.
26. River of the underworld, in Greek myth
Hint: Four letters. The river across which Charon ferries souls. Also a rock band.
Down Hints
1. Pointy-eared creature of folklore
Hint: Three letters. Lives in forests, has magical vibes, not a dwarf.
2. Flowery hula "hoop"
Hint: Three letters. A necklace of flowers, often given as a greeting in Hawaii.
3. Ruin
Hint: Three letters. To spoil or damage. Rhymes with "tar."
4. "___ Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish"
Hint: Three letters. The first word in a classic Dr. Seuss title.
5. :
Hint: Five letters. The punctuation mark used before a list or explanation.
6. Apportion
Hint: Five letters. To distribute or assign shares. Starts with A.
7. Police academies require physical and written ones
Hint: Five letters. Evaluations that measure fitness and knowledge.
9. Tennis star Nadal, to fans
Hint: Four letters. A nickname for the Spanish clay-court legend.
11. Cries
Hint: Four letters. Weeps loudly. Starts with S.
13. Gallivants (about)
Hint: Four letters. Wanders around having fun. Starts with G.
14. Like a buzzy crowd
Hint: Five letters. Loud and excited. A stadium after a home team win.
15. ___ cup
Hint: Five letters. A spill-proof toddler drinking vessel.
16. Fliers in a flying V
Hint: Five letters. Migratory birds that honk. Start with G.
19. "Leaving ___ Vegas"
Hint: Three letters. The city that never sleeps... also the answer.
20. Back, nautically
Hint: Three letters. The rear of a ship. Starts with A.
21. Be nosy
Hint: Three letters. To snoop or meddle. "Stop ___ing into my business!"
22. Chicago baseball team, familiarly
Hint: Three letters. The White... what? Also a palindrome.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Furry red monster on TV
Answer: ELMO
5. Purring pet
Answer: CAT
8. Tilt
Answer: LEAN
9. Part in a play, or word that comes before play
Answer: ROLE
10. "The sides of your room are so lit!"
Answer: FIREWALLS
12. "The game is ___"
Answer: AFOOT
13. "Those large folklore characters are so lit!"
Answer: GASGIANTS
17. Disney princess who uses a fork to comb her hair
Answer: ARIEL
18. "Your high-fives are always so lit!"
Answer: DOPESLAPS
23. Drains, as energy
Answer: SAPS
24. Natural hairstyle
Answer: AFRO
25. Bread for a pastrami sandwich
Answer: RYE
26. River of the underworld, in Greek myth
Answer: STYX
Down Answers
1. Pointy-eared creature of folklore
Answer: ELF
2. Flowery hula "hoop"
Answer: LEI
3. Ruin
Answer: MAR
4. "___ Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish"
Answer: ONE
5. :
Answer: COLON
6. Apportion
Answer: ALLOT
7. Police academies require physical and written ones
Answer: TESTS
9. Tennis star Nadal, to fans
Answer: RAFA
11. Cries
Answer: SOBS
13. Gallivants (about)
Answer: GADS
14. Like a buzzy crowd
Answer: AROAR
15. ___ cup
Answer: SIPPY
16. Fliers in a flying V
Answer: GEESE
19. "Leaving ___ Vegas"
Answer: LAS
20. Back, nautically
Answer: AFT
21. Be nosy
Answer: PRY
22. Chicago baseball team, familiarly
Answer: SOX
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 26A "River of the underworld, in Greek myth" for STYX. This is the kind of clue that separates casual solvers from crossword regulars. It's obscure enough to stop you cold, but satisfyingly familiar once it clicks, especially if you know the band.
Wordplay Winner: The entire "so lit!" theme set (10A FIREWALLS, 13A GASGIANTS, 18A DOPESLAPS). Each clue tricks you into reading "lit" as slang for "cool" while the answer interprets it literally as "on fire" or "gaseous." FIREWALLS is the standout: a cybersecurity term disguised as blazing architecture.
Quick Fill: 5A "Purring pet" for CAT. Three letters, zero ambiguity. The kind of entry that gets you started and builds momentum.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for repeated phrasing across clues. When you see "so lit!" in three different spots, you're dealing with a theme. Recognizing that pattern early lets you solve the themed answers faster because you know the construct.
Fill in the short gimmes first. ELMO (1A), CAT (5A), RYE (25A), and SOX (22D) are all three- or four-letter answers that cross multiple longer entries. Locking those in gives you letters that crack the tougher clues.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The "so lit!" theme gave this Saturday puzzle a playful personality that balances the harder mythology and wordplay entries. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
