Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid packs 9x9 squares with a mix of presidential shorthand, animated insects, and a whole lot of exclamations. 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: 39 (15 Across, 24 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Homer Simpson and Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, for two" (12A), requires connecting two pop-culture slackers to a seven-letter synonym
Gimme Clue: "Authentic" (2D), a straightforward four-letter synonym
Theme Spotted: "Dream Scenario"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Lincoln or Eisenhower, informally
Hint: Think commander-in-chief shorthand. Four letters, starts with P.
2. Sleep stage, for short
Hint: The dreaming stage. Three letters, ends with M.
3. Mercedes-___
Hint: The luxury badge. Four letters, starts with B.
4. Walk through shallow water, say
Hint: A beach entry, not swimming. Four letters, starts with W.
5. Rapper born Shawn Carter
Hint: 99 Problems but a clue ain't one. Four letters, ends with Z.
6. "Holy moly!"
Hint: A vintage exclamation. Four letters, starts with E.
7. Homer Simpson and Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, for two
Hint: Two famously unmotivated characters. Seven letters, starts with L.
8. Shoot with a ray gun
Hint: Video game sound effect. Three letters, starts with Z.
9. Chilled tomato-based soup
Hint: Summer favorite, Spanish origin. Eight letters, starts with G.
10. Demographic that grew up in a digital-first world
Hint: Born after 1997. Four letters, starts with G.
11. Get larger
Hint: Opposite of shrink. Four letters, starts with G.
12. 1998 animated film about insects
Hint: Woody Allen voiced the lead worker. Four letters, starts with A.
13. Simplicity
Hint: The opposite of difficulty. Four letters, starts with E.
14. "Holy moly!"
Hint: A milder exclamation, starts with G.
15. Sleep "stage"?
Hint: Where you actually lie down. Three letters, starts with B.
Down Hints
1. Three-letter sammie
Hint: Classic lunch combo. Three letters, starts with P.
2. Authentic
Hint: The real deal. Four letters, starts with R.
3. New Age Irish musician
Hint: "Orinoco Flow" singer. Four letters, starts with E.
4. Sound in a sleep stage, perhaps
Hint: A snoring sound, nine letters all the same.
5. Pasta sauce brand
Hint: Jarred spaghetti sauce staple. Four letters, starts with R.
6. Cheese wrapped in red wax
Hint: A Dutch cheese, often served in a wheel. Four letters, starts with E.
7. Docs prescribe them
Hint: Short for medications. Four letters, starts with M.
9. Something viewed in an internet browser
Hint: A page on the internet. Three letters, starts with W.
13. Talk, talk, talk
Hint: Nonstop chatter. Three letters, starts with Y.
15. ___ splicing
Hint: A molecular biology technique. Four letters, starts with G.
16. Poker payment
Hint: The cost to play a hand. Four letters, starts with A.
17. Crustacean with a blue or box variety
Hint: A clawed sea creature. Four letters, starts with C.
18. Equipment unfurled by a firefighter
Hint: Used to spray water. Four letters, starts with H.
19. Needed to pay back
Hint: In debt. Four letters, starts with O.
20. Practical joke
Hint: A prank. Three letters, starts with G.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Lincoln or Eisenhower, informally
Answer: PREZ
2. Sleep stage, for short
Answer: REM
3. Mercedes-___
Answer: BENZ
4. Walk through shallow water, say
Answer: WADE
5. Rapper born Shawn Carter
Answer: JAYZ
6. "Holy moly!"
Answer: EGAD
7. Homer Simpson and Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, for two
Answer: LAZYBUMS
8. Shoot with a ray gun
Answer: ZAP
9. Chilled tomato-based soup
Answer: GAZPACHO
10. Demographic that grew up in a digital-first world
Answer: GENZ
11. Get larger
Answer: GROW
12. 1998 animated film about insects
Answer: ANTZ
13. Simplicity
Answer: EASE
14. "Holy moly!"
Answer: GEEZ
15. Sleep "stage"?
Answer: BED
Down Answers
1. Three-letter sammie
Answer: PBJ
2. Authentic
Answer: REAL
3. New Age Irish musician
Answer: ENYA
4. Sound in a sleep stage, perhaps
Answer: ZZZZZZZZZ
5. Pasta sauce brand
Answer: RAGU
6. Cheese wrapped in red wax
Answer: EDAM
7. Docs prescribe them
Answer: MEDS
9. Something viewed in an internet browser
Answer: WEB
13. Talk, talk, talk
Answer: YAP
15. ___ splicing
Answer: GENE
16. Poker payment
Answer: ANTE
17. Crustacean with a blue or box variety
Answer: CRAB
18. Equipment unfurled by a firefighter
Answer: HOSE
19. Needed to pay back
Answer: OWED
20. Practical joke
Answer: GAG
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Homer Simpson and Jeffrey 'The Dude' Lebowski, for two" for LAZYBUMS. Two iconic underachievers from different decades, and the answer captures their defining trait in one seven-letter word. The quotation marks around "The Dude" are a nice touch that tips off the pop-culture reference.
Wordplay Winner: "Sleep 'stage'?" for BED. The scare quotes around "stage" clue the solver to think of a different meaning, not a sleep cycle, but the literal place where sleep happens. A clean, misdirecting trick.
Quick Fill: "Authentic" for REAL. A four-letter synonym with no tricks, no wordplay, no obscure knowledge required. It's the anchor that gets the solve started.
Speed Solver Tips
Watch for repeated clue patterns. Today's grid uses two "Holy moly!" exclamations (EGAD and GEEZ), when you spot one, the other likely appears nearby. Crosswords often clump similar answers.
The sleep theme runs through three answers (REM, BED, ZZZZZZZZZ). If you identify a theme early, it can help you fill intersecting Down and Across answers faster. The nine-Z answer for 4D is a gimme once you see the pattern.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between LAZYBUMS, GAZPACHO, and the double "Holy moly!" entries, Saturday's puzzle rewarded solvers with broad pop-culture knowledge. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
