Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Thursday's grid brings a satisfying mix of pop culture, wordplay, and vocabulary that rewards solvers who think laterally. At 10x11 with 35 total clues, it's a solid midweek challenge that clocks in around 10-15 minutes for experienced solvers.
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: 35 (17 Across, 18 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Timekeeping sponsor at Wimbledon" The sports sponsorship angle makes this one a head-scratcher if you're not a tennis fan.
Gimme Clue: "Quarterback Manning" Football fans will fill this in instantly.
Theme Spotted: "Steak Night"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. ___ and cons
Hint: Think of weighing arguments. Four letters, starts with P.
5. Utah city near Arches National Park
Hint: A four-letter desert town popular with hikers and off-roaders.
9. Idly scrolling, perhaps
Hint: The feeling of thumbing through social media with nothing catching your eye. Five letters.
11. Trojan War tale
Hint: Homer's epic poem about Achilles and Hector. Five letters.
13. Praise for excellent work
Hint: A three-word phrase meaning "task completed admirably." 11 letters total, no spaces.
15. College, to a Brit
Hint: Three-letter abbreviation commonly used across the pond.
16. 4G ___
Hint: The wireless standard that powers mobile data. Three letters.
17. Fair compromise
Hint: A phrase meaning a balanced middle ground. 11 letters, no spaces.
22. Quarterback Manning
Hint: The younger Manning brother, two-time Super Bowl winner.
23. Locale for trivia or karaoke
Hint: A place where drinks and entertainment meet. Three letters.
24. Sadly not more common
Hint: A phrase lamenting rarity. 10 letters, no spaces.
29. Timekeeping sponsor at Wimbledon
Hint: A luxury Swiss watch brand. Five letters.
30. Nincompoop
Hint: A mild insult for someone foolish. Five letters, starts with T.
32. Kitchen appliance
Hint: What you cook on. Five letters, starts with S.
33. Row of bushes
Hint: A garden boundary. Five letters, starts with H.
34. Bird whose baby is known as a "cygnet"
Hint: Elegant white waterfowl. Five letters.
35. Cheer (for)
Hint: What fans do at a game. Four letters.
Down Hints
1. Sandwich that may be served crustless, informally
Hint: A childhood lunch staple. Three letters.
2. Pooh pal
Hint: Kanga's little joey from the Hundred Acre Wood.
3. ___ weaver spider
Hint: The type of spider known for spiral webs. Three letters.
4. Perform "surgery" on, as a stuffed animal
Hint: Repairing a torn plush toy. Five letters, starts with S.
5. $1,000,000, casually
Hint: Slang for a million bucks. Three letters.
6. Like yesterday's news
Hint: No longer fresh or relevant. Three letters.
7. Garlicky mayo condiment
Hint: A creamy sauce popular in Mediterranean cuisine. Five letters.
8. Language group of southern Africa
Hint: A major language family. Five letters, starts with B.
10. Swipe left on, perhaps
Hint: Rejecting someone on a dating app. Four letters.
12. Consider
Hint: To judge or regard something as. Four letters, starts with D.
14. Party game to bend over backward for
Hint: A game where you pass under a lowering bar. Five letters.
17. Learns (of)
Hint: Discovers or finds out about something. Five letters.
18. Divvies up
Hint: Distributes or portions out. Six letters.
19. Sleeper's head support
Hint: What you rest your head on at night. Six letters.
20. What "Educated" stands for in the mnemonic
Hint: Think of the acronym for the planets. Five letters.
21. Part of a dresser
Hint: A compartment in a piece of furniture. Six letters.
25. Big brand of outdoorsy sandals
Hint: Sport sandals popular with hikers. Four letters.
26. Plow pullers
Hint: Farm animals that work in pairs. Four letters.
27. Mulligan
Hint: A do-over, often in golf. Four letters.
28. Therefore, in geometry proofs
Hint: A Latin word meaning "hence." Four letters.
31. Furry friend
Hint: A household animal companion. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. ___ and cons
Answer: PROS
5. Utah city near Arches National Park
Answer: MOAB
9. Idly scrolling, perhaps
Answer: BORED
11. Trojan War tale
Answer: ILIAD
13. Praise for excellent work
Answer: JOBWELLDONE
15. College, to a Brit
Answer: UNI
16. 4G ___
Answer: LTE
17. Fair compromise
Answer: HAPPYMEDIUM
22. Quarterback Manning
Answer: ELI
23. Locale for trivia or karaoke
Answer: BAR
24. Sadly not more common
Answer: ALLTOORARE
29. Timekeeping sponsor at Wimbledon
Answer: ROLEX
30. Nincompoop
Answer: TWERP
32. Kitchen appliance
Answer: STOVE
33. Row of bushes
Answer: HEDGE
34. Bird whose baby is known as a "cygnet"
Answer: SWANS
35. Cheer (for)
Answer: ROOT
Down Answers
1. Sandwich that may be served crustless, informally
Answer: PBJ
2. Pooh pal
Answer: ROO
3. ___ weaver spider
Answer: ORB
4. Perform "surgery" on, as a stuffed animal
Answer: SEWUP
5. $1,000,000, casually
Answer: MIL
6. Like yesterday's news
Answer: OLD
7. Garlicky mayo condiment
Answer: AIOLI
8. Language group of southern Africa
Answer: BANTU
10. Swipe left on, perhaps
Answer: DENY
12. Consider
Answer: DEEM
14. Party game to bend over backward for
Answer: LIMBO
17. Learns (of)
Answer: HEARS
18. Divvies up
Answer: ALLOTS
19. Sleeper's head support
Answer: PILLOW
20. What "Educated" stands for in the mnemonic
Answer: EARTH
21. Part of a dresser
Answer: DRAWER
25. Big brand of outdoorsy sandals
Answer: TEVA
26. Plow pullers
Answer: OXEN
27. Mulligan
Answer: REDO
28. Therefore, in geometry proofs
Answer: ERGO
31. Furry friend
Answer: PET
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Timekeeping sponsor at Wimbledon" for ROLEX. This clue rewards sports knowledge and brand awareness in equal measure. Not every solver knows that Rolex is the official timekeeper at the All England Club, making it a satisfying "aha" moment when it clicks.
Wordplay Winner: "Party game to bend over backward for" for LIMBO. The literal and figurative meanings of "bend over backward" converge perfectly. You're literally bending backward to play the game, and you'd figuratively bend over backward to win.
Quick Fill: "Quarterback Manning" for ELI. Two-time Super Bowl MVP and one of the most recognizable names in football. A gimme for sports fans and a reliable crosser for everyone else.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Thursday's grid leans hard on three-letter fills (PBJ, ROO, ORB, MIL, OLD, BAR, ELI, UNI, LTE, PET). When you're stuck on a long answer, fill the short crosses first. Those three-letter gimmes create a scaffolding that makes the 10-11 letter answers like JOBWELLDONE and HAPPYMEDIUM much easier to crack.
Watch for clues that hide common phrases behind prepositional phrasing. "Praise for excellent work" is JOBWELLDONE, not a single word. If a clue reads like a full sentence, the answer is probably a multi-word phrase smashed together. Train yourself to spot compound answers early.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The ROLEX and LIMBO clues rewarded trivia and wordplay instincts in equal measure. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
