Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings a clever 9x9 puzzle packed with math-inspired wordplay and pop culture references. Three clue-answer pairs double as multiplication equations, rewarding solvers who think beyond the literal definition. 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: 9x9
Total Clues: 42 (28 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Deodorant target x Hospital area = Ring master?"
Gimme Clue: "Owns". Three letters, definition straight.
Theme Spotted: "Sign of the Times"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Joke around in good fun
Hint: Four letters. Think playful teasing, not a punchline. Starts with J.
5. Owns
Hint: Three letters. Present tense of "to have."
8. Nebraska's biggest city
Hint: Five letters. Home of the College World Series. Starts with O.
10. Antlered forest animal
Hint: Three letters. A type of deer. Short and starts with E.
11. Deodorant target x Hospital area = Ring master?
Hint: Solve the multiplication. Armpit (6 letters) x Ward (4 letters) = ? Clue result is a boxer's nickname.
12. Noon on a sundial
Hint: Three letters. Roman numerals for 12.
13. When some doughnut shops open
Hint: Five letters. Early morning. Think 5 AM written as one word.
15. Org. for doctors
Hint: Three letters. Acronym. Starts with A.
17. Some marketing between TV shows
Hint: Three letters. Commercials, abbreviated.
18. Keep one's mouth shut
Hint: Five letters. Phrasal verb. Think "clam" plus a preposition.
20. Salmon topping for a bagel
Hint: Three letters. Smoked fish. Starts with L.
21. π x Chicago train = TV spot?
Hint: Solve the multiplication. Pi (2 letters) x El (2 letters) = ? Result is a single digital point on a screen.
25. Poke bowl fish
Hint: Three letters. Hawaiian tuna. Starts with A.
26. Last-second bid on eBay
Hint: Five letters. A competitive tactic. Think a snake's strike.
27. Sweet potato lookalike
Hint: Three letters. Starchy orange tuber. Starts with Y.
28. Annoying winged insect
Hint: Four letters. Tiny flying pest. Starts with G.
Down Hints
1. "Don't quit your day ___!"
Hint: Three letters. What you do for a living.
2. Angsty rock subgenre
Hint: Three letters. Bands like My Chemical Romance. Starts with E.
3. J-shaped jazz instrument, for short
Hint: Three letters. Abbreviation. Starts with S.
4. One's relatives, casually
Hint: Six letters. "The ___" slang for family. Starts with F.
5. That man x Singer Sheeran = Was a bad speller?
Hint: Solve the multiplication. He (3 letters) x Ed (2 letters) = ? The result is a word meaning "cursed" or "jinxed."
6. Another name to go by
Hint: Five letters. Also known as. Starts with A.
7. Read over quickly
Hint: Four letters. Glance through. Starts with S.
9. The M.L.B.'s Diamondbacks, on sports tickers
Hint: Three letters. Team abbreviation. Starts with A.
14. Smoking an e-cig
Hint: Six letters. Present participle. Starts with V.
15. Hawaiian hello
Hint: Five letters. Also means love. Starts with A.
16. Mother x Online chat = Ain't it the truth?
Hint: Solve the multiplication. Ma (2 letters) x IM (2 letters) = ? Result is a saying or proverb.
18. Sculptor's material
Hint: Four letters. Malleable earth. Starts with C.
19. FedEx alternative
Hint: Three letters. Brown trucks. Starts with U.
22. Mark, as a square on a ballot
Hint: Three letters. Fill in. Starts with X.
23. U.S. org. that monitors air quality
Hint: Three letters. Government agency. Starts with E.
24. Allow
Hint: Three letters. Permit. Starts with L.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Joke around in good fun
Answer: JEST
5. Owns
Answer: HAS
8. Nebraska's biggest city
Answer: OMAHA
10. Antlered forest animal
Answer: ELK
11. Deodorant target x Hospital area = Ring master?
Answer: BOXER
12. Noon on a sundial
Answer: XII
13. When some doughnut shops open
Answer: FIVEAM
15. Org. for doctors
Answer: AMA
17. Some marketing between TV shows
Answer: ADS
18. Keep one's mouth shut
Answer: CLAMUP
20. Salmon topping for a bagel
Answer: LOX
21. π x Chicago train = TV spot?
Answer: PIXEL
25. Poke bowl fish
Answer: AHI
26. Last-second bid on eBay
Answer: SNIPE
27. Sweet potato lookalike
Answer: YAM
28. Annoying winged insect
Answer: GNAT
Down Answers
1. "Don't quit your day ___!"
Answer: JOB
2. Angsty rock subgenre
Answer: EMO
3. J-shaped jazz instrument, for short
Answer: SAX
4. One's relatives, casually
Answer: THEFAM
5. That man x Singer Sheeran = Was a bad speller?
Answer: HEXED
6. Another name to go by
Answer: ALIAS
7. Read over quickly
Answer: SKIM
9. The M.L.B.'s Diamondbacks, on sports tickers
Answer: ARI
14. Smoking an e-cig
Answer: VAPING
15. Hawaiian hello
Answer: ALOHA
16. Mother x Online chat = Ain't it the truth?
Answer: MAXIM
18. Sculptor's material
Answer: CLAY
19. FedEx alternative
Answer: UPS
22. Mark, as a square on a ballot
Answer: XIN
23. U.S. org. that monitors air quality
Answer: EPA
24. Allow
Answer: LET
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Deodorant target x Hospital area = Ring master?" for BOXER. The constructors turned a simple multiplication equation into a three-step deduction: ARMPIT (deodorant target) times WARD (hospital area) equals BOXER, a term for a professional fighter who operates in a "ring." It's the hardest clue in the grid and the most rewarding to crack.
Wordplay Winner: "π x Chicago train = TV spot?" for PIXEL. PI (the Greek letter) multiplied by EL (Chicago's elevated train) produces PIXEL, the smallest unit of a digital display. The clue takes a math constant and a city's transit shorthand and turns them into a tech term. Clean, clever, and satisfying.
Quick Fill: "Owns" for HAS. Three letters, zero ambiguity, instant fill. Every grid needs them, and this one delivers on entry 5A.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Saturday's grid uses the "x" symbol in four clues to signal a multiplication equation. When you see an unfamiliar operator between clue segments, treat each side as a separate mini-answer, then multiply their letter counts. The result is your final answer. This pattern appears in both Across (11A, 21A) and Down (5D, 16D) entries, so scanning for it early unlocks multiple sections of the grid.
Short fills like JEST, HAS, ELK, XII, AMA, ADS, LOX, AHI, YAM, and GNAT cluster at the top and bottom of the grid, making the puzzle's outer edges faster to complete. Start there and work inward toward the math-heavy clues in the center.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Saturday's math equation theme rewarded solvers who spotted the pattern early, especially the BOXER and PIXEL clues that required both vocabulary and arithmetic. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
