Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid sneaks in a stock-market theme that turns ticker symbols into everyday words. Five clues double as Wall Street shorthand for companies ranging from Ferrari to Molson Coors, giving solvers a puzzle that rewards both vocabulary and market awareness.
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: 29 (14 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Sudden inability to putt or throw a baseball, informally"
Gimme Clue: "Of course!"
Theme Spotted: "Stock Characters"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. [Gasp!]
Hint: Two syllables. What you'd shout when you realize you left the oven on. Four letters, starts with O.
5. Subject of the W.W. II book "Normandy '44"
Hint: One of the most famous days in military history. Four letters, starts with D.
9. Apt stock ticker symbol for ... Petco
Hint: What a dog says. Four letters.
10. ... Ferrari
Hint: What fast cars do. Four letters.
11. Things kids may jump into in the fall
Hint: Autumn's signature ground cover. Nine letters.
13. Like some challenging marathon terrain
Hint: Think slopes and inclines. Five letters.
14. Baseball legend Ripken
Hint: Orioles Hall of Famer, first name only. Three letters.
15. Sudden inability to putt or throw a baseball, informally
Hint: Golfers and pitchers share this curse. Seven letters, starts with T.
19. Listen to
Hint: What ears do. Four letters.
20. Served without ice, as a drink
Hint: Whiskey order. Four letters.
22. R&B singer Redding
Hint: "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" singer. Four letters.
23. Fancy party
Hint: Dress code: black tie. Four letters.
24. Work well together
Hint: Team chemistry word. Three letters.
25. Weight room unit
Hint: One complete motion in a set. Three letters.
Down Hints
1. Bird with excellent night vision
Hint: Hoots for a living. Three letters.
2. Garden tool for weeding
Hint: Long handle, sharp blade, pulls weeds. Three letters.
3. Wyle of "The Pitt"
Hint: Actor Noah, first name. Four letters.
4. Cops
Hint: Law enforcement, plural. Eight letters.
5. Activity for a dentist, construction worker or oil prospector
Hint: All three professions bore holes. Eight letters.
6. TV host Carson
Hint: "Last Call" host. Four letters.
7. ___ in the hole
Hint: Poker hand or hidden advantage. Three letters.
8. "Of course!"
Hint: Three-letter affirmation.
12. ... Dave & Buster's
Hint: What you do at an arcade. Four letters.
15. Head, in French
Hint: French word for the thing above your neck. Four letters.
16. Icy weather
Hint: Frozen precipitation that's not snow. Four letters.
17. Teardrop-shaped fruit
Hint: Green or red, sweet, juicy. Four letters.
18. Bill of ___
Hint: Receipt document. Four letters.
19. ... Harley-Davidson
Hint: A large motorcycle, or a pig. Three letters.
21. ... Molson Coors
Hint: What you turn to get beer from a keg. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. [Gasp!]
Answer: OHNO
5. Subject of the W.W. II book "Normandy '44"
Answer: DDAY
9. Apt stock ticker symbol for ... Petco
Answer: WOOF
10. ... Ferrari
Answer: RACE
11. Things kids may jump into in the fall
Answer: LEAFPILES
13. Like some challenging marathon terrain
Answer: HILLY
14. Baseball legend Ripken
Answer: CAL
15. Sudden inability to putt or throw a baseball, informally
Answer: THEYIPS
19. Listen to
Answer: HEAR
20. Served without ice, as a drink
Answer: NEAT
22. R&B singer Redding
Answer: OTIS
23. Fancy party
Answer: GALA
24. Work well together
Answer: GEL
25. Weight room unit
Answer: REP
Down Answers
1. Bird with excellent night vision
Answer: OWL
2. Garden tool for weeding
Answer: HOE
3. Wyle of "The Pitt"
Answer: NOAH
4. Cops
Answer: OFFICERS
5. Activity for a dentist, construction worker or oil prospector
Answer: DRILLING
6. TV host Carson
Answer: DALY
7. ___ in the hole
Answer: ACE
8. "Of course!"
Answer: YES
12. ... Dave & Buster's
Answer: PLAY
15. Head, in French
Answer: TETE
16. Icy weather
Answer: HAIL
17. Teardrop-shaped fruit
Answer: PEAR
18. Bill of ___
Answer: SALE
19. ... Harley-Davidson
Answer: HOG
21. ... Molson Coors
Answer: TAP
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Sudden inability to putt or throw a baseball, informally" for THEYIPS. This is a niche sports term that both golfers and baseball pitchers will recognize. The yips are a real phenomenon, and seeing it pluralized as THEYIPS is a satisfying aha moment.
Wordplay Winner: The stock ticker theme ties five clues together, but WOOF for Petco is the most playful. The clue practically winks at you, and the answer is exactly what you'd expect from a pet supply company's ticker.
Quick Fill: "Of course!" for YES is about as straightforward as crossword cluing gets. Three letters, no wordplay, no obscure knowledge required.
Speed Solver Tips
When you see a clue ending with an ellipsis (like "... Petco" or "... Ferrari"), look for a word that doubles as a stock ticker symbol. The NYT puzzle editors love using this format to signal a thematic clue. WOOF, RACE, PLAY, HOG, and TAP are all common nouns that happen to trade on exchanges.
Watch for informal "-s" suffixes in answers. THEYIPS looks odd at first glance, but recognizing that "the yips" can be respelled as a single word unlocks the entire northwest corner of the grid.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Whether the ticker theme had you checking your portfolio or the sports references had you reliving game day, every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
