Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid delivers a clever French-themed meta-puzzle built around the letters "AU." 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: 10x11
Total Clues: 34 (17 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 12A "French Post-Impressionist known for his Tahitian paintings", this is a proper name spanning three words, making cross-checking essential.
Gimme Clue: 24A "Dog's bark" Three letters, no tricks.
Theme Spotted: "A Little Help Here"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Purple sign
Hint: Think of the color that represents harmony and calm. Five letters, starts with P.
6. "Hey ... want to hear something cool?"
Hint: The sound you make to get someone's attention quietly. Four letters.
10. ___ Dictionary
Hint: The crowdsourced dictionary that defines internet slang. Five letters.
11. Give 10% in church, say
Hint: A religious practice of donating a tenth of one's income. Five letters.
12. French Post-Impressionist known for his Tahitian paintings
Hint: This artist painted "Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" Two first names, one last name.
14. Baby sheep
Hint: A young woolly animal. Four letters.
15. Genetic code material
Hint: The molecule that stores biological information. Three letters.
16. Rock genre that originated in Seattle
Hint: Think flannel shirts and the early 1990s. Six letters.
19. Filmdom's "A Few Good ___"
Hint: Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and a military courtroom. Three letters.
20. What comes out of a tailpipe
Hint: Car emissions. Two words, ten letters total.
23. Unhurried
Hint: The opposite of fast. Four letters.
24. Dog's bark
Hint: A classic onomatopoeia. Three letters.
25. Lively spirit
Hint: A French word for enthusiasm that starts with E. Four letters.
26. Budget-friendly car rental agency
Hint: The name literally means "frugal." Six letters.
30. TV journalist Melber
Hint: MSNBC's chief legal correspondent. Three letters.
31. Providers of help around the house ... or what 12- and 20-Across contain?
Hint: Live-in nannies from abroad. Two words, eight letters total. Look for the shared two-letter combo.
32. Org. that ended its "shoes-off" policy in 2025
Hint: Airport security. Three letters.
33. Crosses (out)
Hint: Marks with an X. Three letters.
34. Zero
Hint: Another word for nothing. Three letters.
Down Hints
1. Rambunctious addition to the fam
Hint: A young, energetic four-legged friend. Three letters.
2. Key stat for a Cy Young Award hopeful, in brief
Hint: A pitcher's earned run average. Three letters.
3. ___ Dhabi
Hint: The capital of the United Arab Emirates. Three letters.
4. "Buy today!," in infomercial-speak
Hint: A phrase that urges immediate purchase. Two words, seven letters total.
5. Captivate
Hint: To hold someone's attention completely. Six letters.
6. Hamm in "Toy Story," e.g.
Hint: The piggy bank voiced by John Ratzenberger. Three letters.
7. Real hunk
Hint: An extremely attractive man. Two words, nine letters.
8. Polishes
Hint: Makes shoes gleam. Six letters.
9. One paying a landlord
Hint: A renter. Six letters.
11. Where the Cat in the Hat eats cake, in "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back"
Hint: A bathroom fixture. Three letters.
13. "Don't live life without it" card, informally
Hint: A popular credit card brand. Four letters.
16. React to, as a great surprise
Hint: To inhale sharply in shock. Two words, six letters total.
17. Kings and queens
Hint: Monarchs. Six letters.
18. Heaven on earth
Hint: An ideal, perfect place. Six letters.
21. Angelic instruments
Hint: Stringed instruments played in orchestras. Five letters.
22. Opera solo
Hint: A melody sung by one performer. Four letters.
26. Luxury ___ (penalty for an N.B.A. team over a certain salary threshold)
Hint: A financial penalty for overspending on player salaries. Three letters.
27. Color shade
Hint: A tint or tone. Three letters.
28. Prefix with -fecta
Hint: A prefix meaning "three." Three letters.
29. French fashion inits.
Hint: A luxury brand founded by Yves. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Purple sign
Answer: PEACE
6. "Hey ... want to hear something cool?"
Answer: PSST
10. ___ Dictionary
Answer: URBAN
11. Give 10% in church, say
Answer: TITHE
12. French Post-Impressionist known for his Tahitian paintings
Answer: PAUL GAUGUIN
14. Baby sheep
Answer: LAMB
15. Genetic code material
Answer: DNA
16. Rock genre that originated in Seattle
Answer: GRUNGE
19. Filmdom's "A Few Good ___"
Answer: MEN
20. What comes out of a tailpipe
Answer: AUTO EXHAUST
23. Unhurried
Answer: SLOW
24. Dog's bark
Answer: ARF
25. Lively spirit
Answer: ELAN
26. Budget-friendly car rental agency
Answer: THRIFTY
30. TV journalist Melber
Answer: ARI
31. Providers of help around the house ... or what 12- and 20-Across contain?
Answer: AU PAIRS
32. Org. that ended its "shoes-off" policy in 2025
Answer: TSA
33. Crosses (out)
Answer: XES
34. Zero
Answer: NIL
Down Answers
1. Rambunctious addition to the fam
Answer: PUP
2. Key stat for a Cy Young Award hopeful, in brief
Answer: ERA
3. ___ Dhabi
Answer: ABU
4. "Buy today!," in infomercial-speak
Answer: CALL NOW
5. Captivate
Answer: ENGAGE
6. Hamm in "Toy Story," e.g.
Answer: PIG
7. Real hunk
Answer: STUDMUFFIN
8. Polishes
Answer: SHINES
9. One paying a landlord
Answer: TENANT
11. Where the Cat in the Hat eats cake, in "The Cat in the Hat Comes Back"
Answer: TUB
13. "Don't live life without it" card, informally
Answer: AMEX
16. React to, as a great surprise
Answer: GASPAT
17. Kings and queens
Answer: RULERS
18. Heaven on earth
Answer: UTOPIA
21. Angelic instruments
Answer: HARPS
22. Opera solo
Answer: ARIA
26. Luxury ___ (penalty for an N.B.A. team over a certain salary threshold)
Answer: TAX
27. Color shade
Answer: HUE
28. Prefix with -fecta
Answer: TRI
29. French fashion inits.
Answer: YSL
Grid Breakdown
Standout Clue: 31A "Providers of help around the house ... or what 12- and 20-Across contain?" for AU PAIRS. The constructor embedded "AU" inside PAUL GAUGUIN (12A) and AUTO EXHAUST (20A), then wrote a revealer clue that rewards solvers who spotted the connection. That's a clean, satisfying aha moment.
Wordplay Winner: 7D "Real hunk" for STUDMUFFIN. The clue leans into playful slang rather than a formal definition, and the nine-letter answer is a rare treat in crossword grids. It's the kind of clue that makes you smirk when the letters fill in.
Quick Fill: 24A "Dog's bark" for ARF. Three letters, a kindergarten-level onomatopoeia, and it crosses multiple other entries. If you're stuck anywhere, ARF is the free square that gets things moving.
Speed Solver Tips
Thursday's grid rewards pattern recognition. When you see a long Across answer like PAUL GAUGUIN, plug in the common two-letter combos (AU, UL, AU again) before tackling the full name. Those partials unlock Down crossings that might otherwise stall you.
Watch for theme-revealer clues like 31A that reference other answers by number. If you're stuck on a long entry, scan the clue for phrases like "or what X- and Y-Across contain", that signals a meta-puzzle where the answer is hiding in plain sight across the grid.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The AU PAIRS theme and the STUDMUFFIN surprise made Thursday's puzzle one worth savoring. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
