Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid delivers a 9x10 mix of pop culture references and everyday wordplay that rewards solvers with a broad vocabulary. 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: 9x10
Total Clues: 31 (13 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 18D's holiday film clue -- a long-winded reference that demands you recall a specific quote from Will Ferrell's "Elf."
Gimme Clue: 3D. Speak dishonestly. Four letters.
Theme Spotted: "Devil in Disguise"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Rings up
Hint: Think phone or cash register. Five letters, starts with C.
6A. Kahlo, Klimt and Klee
Hint: They all create. Seven letters, starts with A.
8A. Shade of green commonly used in military uniforms
Hint: Two words. Think olive and something descriptive. Nine letters total.
10A. "___ All Coming Back to Me Now"
Hint: Celine Dion song. Three letters, starts with I.
11A. Drink in a stein
Hint: Pub staple. Three letters, starts with A.
12A. Neighborhood watering hole
Hint: Two words. Your corner bar. Nine letters total.
16A. No particular person
Hint: Anybody, just not specific. Seven letters, starts with S.
17A. Bit of baseball equipment
Hint: What you swing. Three letters, starts with B.
18A. Really bad acts
Hint: Two words. Villainous deeds. Nine letters total.
24A. Draw a ___ in the sand
Hint: A boundary. Four letters, starts with L.
25A. Reaction to a funny text
Hint: Text-speak for laughing. Four letters, starts with L.
26A. People in a cheering section, say
Hint: Supporters. Four letters, starts with F.
27A. Shots overhead?
Hint: Tennis term. Four letters, starts with L.
Down Hints
1D. All-vegetable shortening brand
Hint: A kitchen staple for flaky pie crusts. Six letters, starts with C.
2D. Off-road ride, in brief
Hint: Three letters. An abbreviation for a vehicle.
3D. Speak dishonestly
Hint: Tell a falsehood. Three letters, starts with L.
4D. Psychedelic drug
Hint: Three letters. Also known as acid.
5D. Pressure
Hint: Stress or tension. Six letters, starts with S.
6D. Singing voices below sopranos
Hint: Lower female vocal range. Five letters, starts with A.
7D. Balm
Hint: Soothing ointment. Five letters, starts with S.
8D. Commodity sold by the barrel
Hint: Black gold. Three letters, starts with O.
9D. Scripps spelling competition
Hint: Annual event for spelling champs. Three letters, starts with B.
13D. Strolls
Hint: Leisurely walks. Six letters, starts with A.
14D. Show the way
Hint: Guide or direct. Four letters, starts with L.
15D. "Ooh, please share"
Hint: Urge someone to spill the gossip. Six letters, starts with D.
18D. Holiday film in which the title character says his four main food groups are candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup
Hint: Will Ferrell plays a human raised by elves. Three letters, starts with E.
19D. By way of
Hint: Through or via. Three letters, starts with V.
20D. Traveler's stopover
Hint: A place to rest for the night. Three letters, starts with I.
21D. Angsty rock subgenre
Hint: Bands like My Chemical Romance. Three letters, starts with E.
22D. 2010s dance fad
Hint: A quick arm move that went viral. Three letters, starts with D.
23D. Message spelled out with coconuts, perhaps
Hint: International distress signal. Three letters, starts with S.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Rings up
Answer: CALLS
6A. Kahlo, Klimt and Klee
Answer: ARTISTS
8A. Shade of green commonly used in military uniforms
Answer: OLIVEDRAB
10A. "___ All Coming Back to Me Now"
Answer: ITS
11A. Drink in a stein
Answer: ALE
12A. Neighborhood watering hole
Answer: LOCALDIVE
16A. No particular person
Answer: SOMEONE
17A. Bit of baseball equipment
Answer: BAT
18A. Really bad acts
Answer: EVILDEEDS
24A. Draw a ___ in the sand
Answer: LINE
25A. Reaction to a funny text
Answer: LMAO
26A. People in a cheering section, say
Answer: FANS
27A. Shots overhead?
Answer: LOBS
Down Answers
1D. All-vegetable shortening brand
Answer: CRISCO
2D. Off-road ride, in brief
Answer: ATV
3D. Speak dishonestly
Answer: LIE
4D. Psychedelic drug
Answer: LSD
5D. Pressure
Answer: STRAIN
6D. Singing voices below sopranos
Answer: ALTOS
7D. Balm
Answer: SALVE
8D. Commodity sold by the barrel
Answer: OIL
9D. Scripps spelling competition
Answer: BEE
13D. Strolls
Answer: AMBLES
14D. Show the way
Answer: LEAD
15D. "Ooh, please share"
Answer: DOTELL
18D. Holiday film in which the title character says his four main food groups are candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup
Answer: ELF
19D. By way of
Answer: VIA
20D. Traveler's stopover
Answer: INN
21D. Angsty rock subgenre
Answer: EMO
22D. 2010s dance fad
Answer: DAB
23D. Message spelled out with coconuts, perhaps
Answer: SOS
Grid Breakdown
Standout Clue: 27A. "Shots overhead?" for LOBS. The question mark signals wordplay -- "shots" as tennis shots, not gunshots, and "overhead" as the type of tennis stroke. Clean misdirection.
Wordplay Winner: 23D. "Message spelled out with coconuts, perhaps" for SOS. The image of arranging coconuts on a desert island to signal distress is classic crossword whimsy.
Quick Fill: 3D. "Speak dishonestly" for LIE. Three letters, dead obvious. Gets you started and unlocks valuable crossing letters.
Speed Solver Tips
Look for question marks in clues. They flag wordplay or puns. 27A's "Shots overhead?" uses a question mark to signal the tennis meaning of "shots" -- a signal that saves you from chasing the wrong definition.
Fill in the three-letter gimmes first. LIE, ALE, BAT, OIL, BEE, VIA, INN, EMO, DAB, SOS, ATV, LSD, ITS, and ELF are all short answers that build the grid's scaffolding fast. Knock those out and the longer entries practically solve themselves.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the Elf movie callback, the Celine Dion reference, and the tennis wordplay, this Saturday puzzle offered a little something for everyone. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
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