Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid packs a hidden theme: three clues all riff on the same phrase, "Curt review after playing 18 holes of golf," with answers OFFCOURSE, WEAKLINKS, and LOSTTRACK. It's a clever through-line that rewards solvers who spot the pattern early. Whether you're hunting for hints or ready to check those answers, we've got the full breakdown below.
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: 27 (11 Across, 16 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 23D. "Barbie" character who says "When I found out the patriarchy wasn't about horses, I lost interest anyway" Requires specific movie knowledge.
Gimme Clue: 1A. "That's wild, man!" A common exclamation.
Theme Spotted: "Puttering Around"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. "That's wild, man!"
Hint: Four letters. What you shout when something blows your mind. Starts with W.
5A. One who calls a big truck a "lorry"
Hint: Four letters. Someone from across the pond. Think tea, the Queen, and alternative spellings.
9A. Pulse
Hint: Nine letters. What a doctor checks. It measures beats per minute.
11A. Curt review after playing 18 holes of golf?
Hint: Eight letters. A two-word phrase meaning inappropriate or out of bounds. Think golf course.
12A. Bulb in a pantry
Hint: Five letters. Makes you cry when you chop it. Layers upon layers.
13A. Curt review after playing 18 holes of golf?
Hint: Nine letters. A two-word phrase describing bad connections or fragile spots in a chain.
17A. Snow queen in "Frozen"
Hint: Four letters. She sings "Let It Go." Sister of Anna.
18A. Curt review after playing 18 holes of golf?
Hint: Nine letters. A two-word phrase meaning lost the thread or forgot where you were.
24A. Relaxing refuge
Hint: Three letters. A place for massages, facials, and hot tubs. Shortened form.
25A. Fashion magazine once led by Anna Wintour
Hint: Five letters. The bible of fashion. Starts with V.
26A. Casual greeting
Hint: Three letters. What you say when you see a friend. Rhymes with "they."
27A. "I'm ___ to secrecy"
Hint: Five letters. A promise. Starts with S. You can't break it.
Down Hints
1D. "___ told you that?!"
Hint: Three letters. A question about a person. Starts with W.
2D. Playboy founder, familiarly
Hint: Three letters. Hugh's nickname. Initials of his first and last name.
3D. Lummox
Hint: Three letters. A clumsy, stupid person. Starts with O.
4D. Character's development path, on a TV show
Hint: Three letters. The journey a character takes over a season. Starts with A.
5D. New York Times guest essay contributor Frank
Hint: Five letters. A well-known NYT op-ed writer. Last name Bruni.
6D. ___ to go
Hint: Five letters. Eager and ready. Starts with R. Means "very keen."
7D. "All good, nothing to worry about"
Hint: Five letters. Everything's fine. A reassuring acronym. Starts with I.
8D. Many TikTok users
Hint: Five letters. The demographic that grew up with smartphones. Gen ___.
10D. Saw or screwdriver
Hint: Four letters. Found in a toolbox. A device for making or fixing things.
13D. Like the residents of Cardiff and Wrexham
Hint: Five letters. From Wales. Think dragons, leeks, and a distinctive accent.
14D. Run off to get married
Hint: Five letters. A secret wedding. Starts with E. Vegas special.
15D. Analyze for purity, as ore
Hint: Five letters. A scientific test. Starts with A. Gold miners do this.
16D. Kit ___ bar
Hint: Three letters. A chocolate bar. Rhymes with "cat."
19D. Den flickerers
Hint: Three letters. What families gather around. Flat screens. Starts with T.
20D. One of nine in this 9x9 crossword
Hint: Three letters. Goes across the grid. Horizontal line.
21D. "A long, long time ___ ..."
Hint: Three letters. In the past. Starts with A. Opposite of "before."
22D. Junkyard dog
Hint: Three letters. A mongrel. Starts with C. Mean and scrappy.
23D. "Barbie" character who says "When I found out the patriarchy wasn't about horses, I lost interest anyway"
Hint: Three letters. Played by Ryan Gosling. Beach-off champion. Starts with K.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. "That's wild, man!"
Answer: WHOA
5A. One who calls a big truck a "lorry"
Answer: BRIT
9A. Pulse
Answer: HEARTRATE
11A. Curt review after playing 18 holes of golf?
Answer: OFFCOURSE
12A. Bulb in a pantry
Answer: ONION
13A. Curt review after playing 18 holes of golf?
Answer: WEAKLINKS
17A. Snow queen in "Frozen"
Answer: ELSA
18A. Curt review after playing 18 holes of golf?
Answer: LOSTTRACK
24A. Relaxing refuge
Answer: SPA
25A. Fashion magazine once led by Anna Wintour
Answer: VOGUE
26A. Casual greeting
Answer: HEY
27A. "I'm ___ to secrecy"
Answer: SWORN
Down Answers
1D. "___ told you that?!"
Answer: WHO
2D. Playboy founder, familiarly
Answer: HEF
3D. Lummox
Answer: OAF
4D. Character's development path, on a TV show
Answer: ARC
5D. New York Times guest essay contributor Frank
Answer: BRUNI
6D. ___ to go
Answer: RARIN
7D. "All good, nothing to worry about"
Answer: ITSOK
8D. Many TikTok users
Answer: TEENS
10D. Saw or screwdriver
Answer: TOOL
13D. Like the residents of Cardiff and Wrexham
Answer: WELSH
14D. Run off to get married
Answer: ELOPE
15D. Analyze for purity, as ore
Answer: ASSAY
16D. Kit ___ bar
Answer: KAT
19D. Den flickerers
Answer: TVS
20D. One of nine in this 9x9 crossword
Answer: ROW
21D. "A long, long time ___ ..."
Answer: AGO
22D. Junkyard dog
Answer: CUR
23D. "Barbie" character who says "When I found out the patriarchy wasn't about horses, I lost interest anyway"
Answer: KEN
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 23D for KEN. The full "Barbie" quote clue is a deep cut that demands exact movie recall. If you didn't catch the film, you're relying entirely on cross letters.
Wordplay Winner: The triple-theme clues (11A, 13A, 18A). Each uses the same setup ("Curt review after playing 18 holes of golf?") to land three different answers: OFFCOURSE (out of bounds), WEAKLINKS (bad shots in your game), and LOSTTRACK (lost your ball or your train of thought). That's economical cluing at its finest.
Quick Fill: 1A WHOA. Four letters, common exclamation. It's the first clue in the grid and the easiest gimme of the day.
Speed Solver Tips
Spot repeated clue text immediately. When three clues share identical wording, they're almost certainly a themed set. Solve one and you'll know the pattern for the others.
Saturday grids often lean into pop culture and proper nouns. Today's puzzle drops BRIT, ELSA, VOGUE, BRUNI, KEN, and WELSH. Keep a mental database of common crossword names (HEF, KAT, BRIT) to fill those squares fast.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. Saturday's triple-theme of OFFCOURSE, WEAKLINKS, and LOSTTRACK was a masterclass in making one clue do triple duty. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
