Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings presidential trivia, sports legends, and a phonetic puzzle within a puzzle.
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: 11x11
Total Clues: 60 (39 Across, 21 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 10D. Incredulous question ... or, when read phonetically, a description of each circled letter in this puzzle?
Gimme Clue: 25A. "omg u r 2 funny!"
Theme Spotted: Phonetic puzzle with circled letters that sound like "Y"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. &
Hint: Logical operator, three letters
4A. Firework that doesn't go off
Hint: Failure, disappointment
7A. Lion's warning
Hint: Sound from the jungle
9A. "Yep, noticed that"
Hint: Past tense of see
11A. Three-member band
Hint: Musical group size
12A. One of the Obamas
Hint: Presidential daughter
14A. Fish that's also a color
Hint: Pinkish-orange
16A. Promotional fuss before a product launch
Hint: Buzz, excitement
18A. School with the Scroll and Key secret society
Hint: Ivy League university
19A. Make a choice
Hint: Decide, select
20A. Ginormous
Hint: Large, huge
22A. Tie-___ shirt
Hint: Fabric coloring technique
24A. Federal intelligence group, for short
Hint: U.S. spy agency abbreviation
25A. "omg u r 2 funny!"
Hint: Internet laughter
26A. Had on
Hint: Wore clothing
28A. Low pair in poker
Hint: Deuces
30A. N.B.A. great with the nicknames "The Big Aristotle," "The Big Cactus" and "The Big Shamrock," among others
Hint: Shaquille O'Neal
32A. Really hate
Hint: Despise, loathe
34A. "Rats!"
Hint: Mild expletive
36A. ___ Grey tea
Hint: British tea variety
37A. Palindromic Indian flour
Hint: Whole wheat flour used in flatbreads
38A. Pre-___ (science-heavy undergrad track)
Hint: Medical school preparation
39A. "That was a close one!"
Hint: Expression of relief
Down Hints
1D. Dance, sculpture, etc.
Hint: Creative expression
2D. Director/screenwriter Ephron
Hint: "When Harry Met Sally" filmmaker
3D. Fictional newspaper that once employed Eddie Brock, in the "Spider-Man" universe
Hint: Daily Bugle competitor
4D. Major Orlando attraction, familiarly
Hint: Theme park giant
5D. Country with the most Olympic medals (3,100+)
Hint: United States
6D. -
Hint: Punctuation mark
8D. Oblong tomato type
Hint: Italian plum tomato
10D. Incredulous question ... or, when read phonetically, a description of each circled letter in this puzzle?
Hint: Three-letter question starting with W
13D. They're launched from a home screen
Hint: Smartphone programs
15D. Up there in years
Hint: Aged, not young
17D. Datum in a "landing soon" text
Hint: Estimated time of arrival
20D. Sandwich known by its initials
Hint: Bacon, lettuce, tomato
21D. State between Minnesota and Missouri
Hint: Corn state
23D. Long stretch of time
Hint: Geological age
27D. Highlights section after a football game, maybe
Hint: Summary, review
29D. Fake
Hint: Not genuine
31D. "Better ___ than never!"
Hint: Opposite of early
33D. Mine removal
Hint: Extracted mineral
35D. What a dog "shakes" with
Hint: Canine appendage
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. &
Answer: AND
4A. Firework that doesn't go off
Answer: DUD
7A. Lion's warning
Answer: ROAR
9A. "Yep, noticed that"
Answer: ISAW
11A. Three-member band
Answer: TRIO
12A. One of the Obamas
Answer: SASHA
14A. Fish that's also a color
Answer: SALMON
16A. Promotional fuss before a product launch
Answer: HYPE
18A. School with the Scroll and Key secret society
Answer: YALE
19A. Make a choice
Answer: OPT
20A. Ginormous
Answer: BIG
22A. Tie-___ shirt
Answer: DYE
24A. Federal intelligence group, for short
Answer: NSA
25A. "omg u r 2 funny!"
Answer: LOL
26A. Had on
Answer: WORE
28A. Low pair in poker
Answer: TWOS
30A. N.B.A. great with the nicknames "The Big Aristotle," "The Big Cactus" and "The Big Shamrock," among others
Answer: ONEAL
32A. Really hate
Answer: ABHOR
34A. "Rats!"
Answer: CRAP
36A. ___ Grey tea
Answer: EARL
37A. Palindromic Indian flour
Answer: ATTA
38A. Pre-___ (science-heavy undergrad track)
Answer: MED
39A. "That was a close one!"
Answer: PHEW
Down Answers
1D. Dance, sculpture, etc.
Answer: ART
2D. Director/screenwriter Ephron
Answer: NORA
3D. Fictional newspaper that once employed Eddie Brock, in the "Spider-Man" universe
Answer: DAILY
4D. Major Orlando attraction, familiarly
Answer: DISNEY
5D. Country with the most Olympic medals (3,100+)
Answer: USA
6D. -
Answer: DASH
8D. Oblong tomato type
Answer: ROMA
10D. Incredulous question ... or, when read phonetically, a description of each circled letter in this puzzle?
Answer: WHY
13D. They're launched from a home screen
Answer: APPS
15D. Up there in years
Answer: OLD
17D. Datum in a "landing soon" text
Answer: ETA
20D. Sandwich known by its initials
Answer: BLT
21D. State between Minnesota and Missouri
Answer: IOWA
23D. Long stretch of time
Answer: EON
27D. Highlights section after a football game, maybe
Answer: RECAP
29D. Fake
Answer: SHAM
31D. "Better ___ than never!"
Answer: LATE
33D. Mine removal
Answer: ORE
35D. What a dog "shakes" with
Answer: PAW
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 10D for WHY. The clue works on two levels: as a simple question meaning "for what reason," and as a clever meta-puzzle where circled letters in the grid (likely Y's) phonetically sound like "why." This layered construction is classic Saturday puzzle craftsmanship.
Wordplay Winner: 30A for ONEAL. The clue lists multiple nicknames for Shaquille O'Neal ("The Big Aristotle," "The Big Cactus," "The Big Shamrock") without mentioning his name directly, forcing solvers to connect the basketball legend to his various monikers across different teams.
Quick Fill: 25A for LOL. The clue uses text message shorthand ("omg u r 2 funny!") to point directly to the internet laughter acronym, making it one of the fastest solves in the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for phonetic clues like 10D. When a clue mentions "read phonetically," it often indicates letters that sound like words. In this case, circled Y's throughout the grid would sound like "why."
Recognize nickname patterns for famous figures. Shaquille O'Neal's various "Big" nicknames correspond to his teams: "The Big Aristotle" (Lakers), "The Big Cactus" (Suns), "The Big Shamrock" (Celtics). Knowing these associations speeds up the solve.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The phonetic puzzle within a puzzle and the Shaquille O'Neal nickname challenge tested both lateral thinking and pop culture knowledge.
Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
