Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Saturday's grid brings a playful 11x11 puzzle built around a clever phonetics gimmick. The theme answers at 15- and 19-Across deliver a two-layer punch: literal meaning plus sound-alike wordplay. 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: 36 (20 Across, 16 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Statements that lack substance ... or, when read phonetically, a description of the spoken phrases at 15- and 19-Across?"
Gimme Clue: "Delicious!"
Theme Spotted: "Initial Remarks"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Hunchbacked creatures in "The Lord of the Rings"
Hint: Tolkien's bad guys. Four letters, plural. Think Mordor's foot soldiers.
5. "Delicious!"
Hint: Three letters. What you say when something tastes great. Starts with Y.
8. ___ 66 (iconic 2,278-mile highway)
Hint: The Mother Road. Five letters. Starts with R.
10. Clickable greeting in an inbox
Hint: Digital greeting card. Five letters. Starts with E.
13. Pull out all the stops
Hint: Go all in. Four letters. "Go ___ or go home."
14. Green gunk in a fish tank
Hint: That slimy stuff on the glass. Five letters. Starts with A.
15. "Very grateful for your help!"
Hint: Nine letters, two words. A polite thank you. Also plays a role in today's theme.
17. Student's stat
Hint: Three letters. Academic average. Starts with G.
18. Exclamation that aptly rhymes with "shriek"
Hint: Three letters. A startled yelp. Spelled like a scream sounds.
19. "I'll get this meal"
Hint: Six letters, two words. What you say when you're picking up the check.
22. Day, in Spanish
Hint: Three letters. "___ de los Muertos." Starts with D.
24. Timeworn
Hint: Three letters. Opposite of new. Starts with O.
25. Statements that lack substance ... or, when read phonetically, a description of the spoken phrases at 15- and 19-Across?
Hint: Eight letters, two words. Empty ___ . Read 15- and 19-Across answers out loud for the connection.
29. Absolute ___ (operation represented by |x|)
Hint: Five letters. Math term. What |x| does to negative numbers.
30. Prongs of a fork or a kalimba
Hint: Five letters. The pointy parts. Starts with T.
33. Segment of a movie
Hint: Five letters. A part of a film. Starts with S.
34. Rechargeable two-wheeled vehicle
Hint: Five letters. Electric bike. Starts with E.
35. Where a 33-Across might be filmed
Hint: Three letters. A movie studio's ___ . Starts with S.
36. Dish like gumbo
Hint: Four letters. Hearty soup. Starts with S.
Down Hints
1. Alternative to .com or .net
Hint: Three letters. Web domain suffix for nonprofits. Starts with O.
2. Hotel unit
Hint: Four letters. What you book. Starts with R.
3. Big cigar-exporting nation
Hint: Four letters. Caribbean island nation. Famous for cigars and old cars. Starts with C.
4. Unwilling to spend much
Hint: Six letters. Frugal to a fault. Starts with S.
5. "Uh-huh"
Hint: Four letters. Casual affirmation. Starts with Y.
6. Sch. near Hollywood
Hint: Four letters. Los Angeles university. Starts with U.
7. Calendar holder on a refrigerator
Hint: Six letters. Sticks to the fridge door. Starts with M.
9. Cairo's country
Hint: Five letters. North African nation. Starts with E.
11. Tool for collecting fallen leaves
Hint: Four letters. Yard tool with a long handle. Starts with R.
12. A student might be assigned one in a classroom
Hint: Four letters. What you sit at. Starts with D.
16. Fortuneteller's card deck
Hint: Five letters. Not playing cards. Used for readings. Starts with T.
19. Trees that are sources of syrup
Hint: Six letters. Plural. The sweet stuff comes from these. Starts with M.
20. Make super happy
Hint: Five letters. Delight greatly. Starts with E.
21. Lines not in the script
Hint: Five letters. Improvised dialogue. Starts with A.
22. Software coders, informally
Hint: Four letters. Short for developers. Starts with D.
23. Powerful Apple computer
Hint: Four letters. Desktop model. Starts with I.
26. Something to whistle or hum
Hint: Four letters. A melody. Starts with T.
27. Forcefully throw, in modern lingo
Hint: Four letters. Gen Z slang. Starts with Y.
28. Work with needles and yarn
Hint: Four letters. Grandma's hobby. Starts with K.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Hunchbacked creatures in "The Lord of the Rings"
Answer: ORCS
5. "Delicious!"
Answer: YUM
8. ___ 66 (iconic 2,278-mile highway)
Answer: ROUTE
10. Clickable greeting in an inbox
Answer: ECARD
13. Pull out all the stops
Answer: GO BIG
14. Green gunk in a fish tank
Answer: ALGAE
15. "Very grateful for your help!"
Answer: MANY THANKS
17. Student's stat
Answer: GPA
18. Exclamation that aptly rhymes with "shriek"
Answer: EEK
19. "I'll get this meal"
Answer: MY TREAT
22. Day, in Spanish
Answer: DIA
24. Timeworn
Answer: OLD
25. Statements that lack substance ... or, when read phonetically, a description of the spoken phrases at 15- and 19-Across?
Answer: EMPTY TALK
29. Absolute ___ (operation represented by |x|)
Answer: VALUE
30. Prongs of a fork or a kalimba
Answer: TINES
33. Segment of a movie
Answer: SCENE
34. Rechargeable two-wheeled vehicle
Answer: EBIKE
35. Where a 33-Across might be filmed
Answer: SET
36. Dish like gumbo
Answer: STEW
Down Answers
1. Alternative to .com or .net
Answer: ORG
2. Hotel unit
Answer: ROOM
3. Big cigar-exporting nation
Answer: CUBA
4. Unwilling to spend much
Answer: STINGY
5. "Uh-huh"
Answer: YEAH
6. Sch. near Hollywood
Answer: UCLA
7. Calendar holder on a refrigerator
Answer: MAGNET
9. Cairo's country
Answer: EGYPT
11. Tool for collecting fallen leaves
Answer: RAKE
12. A student might be assigned one in a classroom
Answer: DESK
16. Fortuneteller's card deck
Answer: TAROT
19. Trees that are sources of syrup
Answer: MAPLES
20. Make super happy
Answer: ELATE
21. Lines not in the script
Answer: ADLIBS
22. Software coders, informally
Answer: DEVS
23. Powerful Apple computer
Answer: IMAC
26. Something to whistle or hum
Answer: TUNE
27. Forcefully throw, in modern lingo
Answer: YEET
28. Work with needles and yarn
Answer: KNIT
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 25-Across "Statements that lack substance ... or, when read phonetically, a description of the spoken phrases at 15- and 19-Across?" for EMPTY TALK. The clue does double duty: it defines the answer literally while also pointing to the meta-puzzle. Say "many thanks" and "my treat" out loud, and you'll hear "empty" and "talk" hiding in their sounds.
Wordplay Winner: 18-Across "Exclamation that aptly rhymes with 'shriek'" for EEK. The clue practically spells the answer for you. If it rhymes with "shriek," you're looking for a three-letter scream. That's a gift on a Saturday grid.
Quick Fill: 5-Across "Delicious!" for YUM. Three letters, no ambiguity, instant fill. The kind of clue that gets you off to a fast start.
Speed Solver Tips
Watch for phonetics in theme clues. When a clue says "read phonetically," say the crossed answers aloud. 15-Across (MANY THANKS) sounds like "empty" and 19-Across (MY TREAT) sounds like "talk" when spoken quickly. That's your in for 25-Across.
Saturday puzzles reward pattern recognition over trivia. Short fill like YUM (5A), DIA (22A), OLD (24A), and EEK (18A) build momentum fast. Lock those in early to reveal longer answers.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The phonetic play at 25-Across was the puzzle's hidden engine, and once you cracked it, the rest of the grid opened up. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
