Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid brings a multilingual twist, World Cup vocabulary in Spanish, Italian, and American English, plus a nursery rhyme deep cut. 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: 38 (14 Across, 22 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "World Cup sport, in Spanish" (16A), This is straightforward, but the theme demands you switch languages mid-puzzle
Gimme Clue: "Chimp or bonobo" (6A), This is a three-letter freebie that unlocks several Down entries
Theme Spotted: "Lets the Games Begin"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Unstated, yet understood
Hint: A five-letter word for something implied but never said aloud. Think silent agreements.
6. Chimp or bonobo
Hint: A three-letter primate. You know this one.
9. How the card game FreeCell is usually played
Hint: One player, no opponents. Five letters, starts with A.
10. It's cool for a hot second
Hint: A three-letter word for something trendy that fades fast.
11. Investigative journalist Farrow
Hint: First name of the journalist who broke the Harvey Weinstein story. Five letters.
12. ___ Newton
Hint: A type of fruit fills this blank. Three letters.
13. Rolled-up grass
Hint: Three letters. You'd lay this in your yard.
14. Parenthetical comment
Hint: A remark delivered to the audience, not the other characters. Five letters.
16. World Cup sport, in Spanish
Hint: The beautiful game, en español. Six letters.
18. World Cup sport, in Italian
Hint: Same sport, Italian style. Six letters.
20. Nursery rhyme with the line "Put it in the oven for baby and me"
Hint: A hand-clapping rhyme. Nine letters, two words.
23. Swelled heads
Hint: Four-letter word for overinflated self-importance.
24. French "to be"
Hint: The infinitive form. Four letters, starts with E.
25. As ___ usual
Hint: A three-letter word meaning "according to" or "like."
26. 100% genuine
Hint: Four letters. Not fake. Not a copy.
Down Hints
1. Covers, as a road
Hint: Four letters. What you do with asphalt.
2. Standoffish and chilly
Hint: Five letters. Distant, cold, unfriendly.
3. Leader with a baton
Hint: Nine letters. The person an orchestra follows.
4. Catch lightning ___ bottle
Hint: Three letters. "Catch lightning ____ a bottle."
5. Viably
Hint: Seven letters. In a workable, sustainable way.
6. Locally-owned TV station licensed to air network programming
Hint: Nine letters. Think local news channels that carry ABC, NBC, or CBS.
7. Ponied up
Hint: Four letters. Paid what was owed.
8. Small advantage
Hint: Four letters. A slight upper hand.
15. World Cup sport, in American English
Hint: Six letters. What Americans call the beautiful game.
17. Pics on a pec, say
Hint: Four letters. Body art, abbreviated.
19. Vegetable in gumbo
Hint: Four letters. A green, slimy pod used in Southern cooking.
20. Lively energy
Hint: Three letters. Bounce. Vim. Vigor.
21. 900 years, for Yoda in "Return of the Jedi"
Hint: Three letters. How old the Jedi Master was when he passed.
22. Fish that becomes a piece of fishing equipment when an "R" is added to the front
Hint: Three letters. Add "R" to get a fishing reel sound-alike.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Unstated, yet understood
Answer: TACIT
6. Chimp or bonobo
Answer: APE
9. How the card game FreeCell is usually played
Answer: ALONE
10. It's cool for a hot second
Answer: FAD
11. Investigative journalist Farrow
Answer: RONAN
12. ___ Newton
Answer: FIG
13. Rolled-up grass
Answer: SOD
14. Parenthetical comment
Answer: ASIDE
16. World Cup sport, in Spanish
Answer: FUTBOL
18. World Cup sport, in Italian
Answer: CALCIO
20. Nursery rhyme with the line "Put it in the oven for baby and me"
Answer: PATTYCAKE
23. Swelled heads
Answer: EGOS
24. French "to be"
Answer: ETRE
25. As ___ usual
Answer: PER
26. 100% genuine
Answer: REAL
Down Answers
1. Covers, as a road
Answer: TARS
2. Standoffish and chilly
Answer: ALOOF
3. Leader with a baton
Answer: CONDUCTOR
4. Catch lightning ___ bottle
Answer: INA
5. Viably
Answer: TENABLY
6. Locally-owned TV station licensed to air network programming
Answer: AFFILIATE
7. Ponied up
Answer: PAID
8. Small advantage
Answer: EDGE
15. World Cup sport, in American English
Answer: SOCCER
17. Pics on a pec, say
Answer: TATS
19. Vegetable in gumbo
Answer: OKRA
20. Lively energy
Answer: PEP
21. 900 years, for Yoda in "Return of the Jedi"
Answer: AGE
22. Fish that becomes a piece of fishing equipment when an "R" is added to the front
Answer: EEL
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "World Cup sport, in Spanish" (16A) for FUTBOL. The puzzle doesn't just give you one language, it makes you cycle through Spanish, Italian, and American English across three separate entries. That's a clever through-line that rewards multilingual solvers.
Wordplay Winner: "Fish that becomes a piece of fishing equipment when an 'R' is added to the front" (22D) for EEL. Add an R to EEL and you get REEL, a fishing reel. Clean, simple, and satisfying.
Quick Fill: "Chimp or bonobo" (6A) for APE. Three letters, zero brain cells required. It also gives you the first letter of 1D (TARS), 2D (ALOOF), and 3D (CONDUCTOR), making it the best starting point in the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When a puzzle drops a theme clue like "World Cup sport, in Spanish," expect its counterparts in other languages or variants to appear nearby. Spotting FUTBOL early should have sent you hunting for CALCIO and SOCCER, and that awareness saves time on the back half of the grid.
The three-letter gimmes (APE, FAD, FIG, SOD, OKRA, EEL) are your entry points. Fill those first to unlock the longer Down entries like CONDUCTOR, AFFILIATE, and TENABLY. Short answers are scaffolding; use them to build toward the heavyweight clues.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? If the World Cup language theme threw you, you'll be ready for similar multilingual tricks next time. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
