Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings volcanic wordplay with a 10x11 challenge.
The puzzle connects molten rock clues with text abbreviations and pop culture references.
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: 10x11
Total Clues: 42 (28 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 3D. "That may be the case, however ..." (YEAHBUT)
Gimme Clue: 7A. "Do some threadwork" (SEW)
Theme Spotted: Volcanic eruption with related lava/magma clues
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. Poison ___
Hint: Climbing plant that causes skin irritation
4A. Counterpart of "thx," in texts
Hint: Text abbreviation for "please"
7A. Do some threadwork
Hint: Use needle and thread
10A. Author whose poem "The Raven" inspired the name of Baltimore's N.F.L. team
Hint: 19th century American writer of mystery and horror
11A. Sam-___ ("Green Eggs and Ham" character)
Hint: Dr. Seuss character's full name ending
12A. Verb shortened to its middle letter in texts
Hint: Text abbreviation for "are"
13A. Pie ___ mode
Hint: French phrase meaning "in the style of"
14A. Filmmaker DuVernay
Hint: Director of "Selma" and "13th"
15A. Mixture of water and dirt
Hint: What you get after rain on soil
16A. Where a bull may cause mayhem, in an idiom
Hint: "Like a bull in a ___"
19A. Hasbro game with forbidden words
Hint: Party game where you can't say certain words
20A. Undue rush
Hint: Acting too quickly
22A. Burden
Hint: Responsibility or obligation
23A. Travel by boat
Hint: Use wind power on water
24A. Center of an olive
Hint: What you remove before eating
25A. Cry a river
Hint: Weep heavily
26A. Summer cooler, for short
Hint: Air conditioning abbreviation
27A. What "I wish I could swing it" means, more tersely
Hint: Negative response
28A. Molten rock (below the earth)
Hint: Underground volcanic material
Down Hints
1D. Many a craft brew
Hint: India Pale Ale abbreviation
2D. With 8-Down, earth-shattering event depicted in this puzzle?
Hint: First word of volcanic event
3D. "That may be the case, however ..."
Hint: Casual conversational transition
4D. Instrument played by Axl Rose on Guns N' Roses' "November Rain"
Hint: Keyboard instrument
5D. Molten rock (above the earth)
Hint: What flows from volcanoes
6D. Huge hit
Hint: Blockbuster success
7D. Triangular pastries with savory fillings
Hint: Indian snack food
8D. See 2-Down
Hint: Second word of volcanic event
9D. Not Tue.-day, but tomorrow?
Hint: Day after Tuesday
17D. What most Apple devices run on
Hint: Apple's mobile operating system
18D. ___-been (washed-up star)
Hint: Word before "been" meaning former star
19D. November birthstone
Hint: Yellow gemstone
21D. "Funny bone" body part
Hint: Joint between upper and lower arm
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Poison ___
Answer: IVY
4A. Counterpart of "thx," in texts
Answer: PLS
7A. Do some threadwork
Answer: SEW
10A. Author whose poem "The Raven" inspired the name of Baltimore's N.F.L. team
Answer: POE
11A. Sam-___ ("Green Eggs and Ham" character)
Answer: IAM
12A. Verb shortened to its middle letter in texts
Answer: ARE
13A. Pie ___ mode
Answer: ALA
14A. Filmmaker DuVernay
Answer: AVA
15A. Mixture of water and dirt
Answer: MUD
16A. Where a bull may cause mayhem, in an idiom
Answer: CHINASHOP
19A. Hasbro game with forbidden words
Answer: TABOO
20A. Undue rush
Answer: HASTE
22A. Burden
Answer: ONUS
23A. Travel by boat
Answer: SAIL
24A. Center of an olive
Answer: PIT
25A. Cry a river
Answer: SOB
26A. Summer cooler, for short
Answer: AC
27A. What "I wish I could swing it" means, more tersely
Answer: NO
28A. Molten rock (below the earth)
Answer: MAGMA
Down Answers
1D. Many a craft brew
Answer: IPA
2D. With 8-Down, earth-shattering event depicted in this puzzle?
Answer: VOLCANIC
3D. "That may be the case, however ..."
Answer: YEAHBUT
4D. Instrument played by Axl Rose on Guns N' Roses' "November Rain"
Answer: PIANO
5D. Molten rock (above the earth)
Answer: LAVA
6D. Huge hit
Answer: SMASH
7D. Triangular pastries with savory fillings
Answer: SAMOSAS
8D. See 2-Down
Answer: ERUPTION
9D. Not Tue.-day, but tomorrow?
Answer: WED
17D. What most Apple devices run on
Answer: IOS
18D. ___-been (washed-up star)
Answer: HAS
19D. November birthstone
Answer: TOPAZ
21D. "Funny bone" body part
Answer: ELBOW
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 2D/8D combination for VOLCANIC ERUPTION. The split clue creates a thematic centerpiece that connects to related lava and magma answers.
Wordplay Winner: 12A "Verb shortened to its middle letter in texts" for ARE. The clue explains the text abbreviation logic while testing solver awareness of modern communication patterns.
Quick Fill: 7A "Do some threadwork" for SEW. Three-letter common verb with straightforward definition makes for reliable grid entry.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Watch for combination clues like 2D/8D. When you see "With X-Down" or "See X-Down," solve both clues together as a single phrase.
Text abbreviations (PLS, ARE) follow predictable patterns. If a clue mentions "in texts" or "for short," think about how words get shortened in digital communication.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's volcanic theme treat you?
The combination of geological terms with modern text abbreviations created a balanced Saturday challenge. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
