Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's grid packs pop culture references, a spelled-out anthem, and a Mike Tyson quote into a tight 9x9 frame. 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: 30 (15 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 8A "J. Cole's '4 Your ___ Only'", requires knowing the rapper's album title, spelled unconventionally
Gimme Clue: 1A "Toy on a string," a crossword staple and immediate fill
Theme Spotted: "Getting in Shape"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Toy on a string
Hint: Up and down, round and round. Three letters, starts with Y.
5. Honoree the second Sunday of May
Hint: You probably called her today. Three letters.
8. J. Cole's "4 Your ___ Only"
Hint: Homophone of "eyes." Four letters, starts with E.
9. Leave out
Hint: What you do to a step in a recipe. Four letters, starts with O.
11. Park and Fifth in Manhattan: Abbr.
Hint: NYC thoroughfares, abbreviated. Four letters, starts with A.
12. "Did you get that ___?" (iconic "Office Space" line)
Hint: The TPS report cover sheet memo. Four letters, starts with M.
13. Unit for a stand-up comedian or musician
Hint: A performance slot. Three letters, starts with S.
14. Wise people
Hint: Think elders with wisdom. Five letters, starts with S.
15. Boxer who said "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"
Hint: Iron Mike. Five letters, starts with T.
17. Podcast interruptions
Hint: What keeps the content free. Three letters, starts with A.
18. Cunning
Hint: Fox-like. Three letters, starts with S.
20. 1/12 of a foot
Hint: A ruler's smallest marked unit. Four letters, starts with I.
23. "Umm ... sure"
Hint: Hesitant agreement. Four letters, starts with O.
27. Work in Python or C++
Hint: What programmers write. Four letters, starts with C.
28. What a police informant might wear
Hint: Hidden microphone. Four letters, starts with W.
29. 1978 Village People anthem with a spelled-out title, as seen in this puzzle's shaded squares
Hint: A classic disco song about a community center. Four letters.
30. Dalai ___
Hint: Tibetan spiritual leader. Four letters, starts with L.
Down Hints
1. Ingredient that makes bread dough rise
Hint: Baker's essential. Five letters, starts with Y.
2. Yiddish comment of dismay
Hint: Oy, followed by something. Five letters, starts with O.
3. Throws with force, in modern lingo
Hint: Slang for hurling. Five letters, starts with Y.
4. There are 16 in a lb.
Hint: Kitchen scale abbreviation. Three letters, starts with O.
5. N.Y.C. home of van Gogh's "The Starry Night"
Hint: Museum of Modern Art, abbreviated. Four letters, starts with M.
6. Last letter of the Greek alphabet
Hint: Alpha's opposite. Five letters, starts with O.
7. Played charades, perhaps
Hint: Acted out silently. Five letters, starts with M.
10. Flip, as a coin
Hint: Call it in the air. Four letters, starts with T.
14. Sketch show with Marcello Hernández, for short
Hint: Saturday night comedy institution. Three letters, starts with S.
16. Actor/rapper ___ Jackson Jr.
Hint: "She's Gotta Have It" star. Five letters, starts with O.
19. Loud, distressed cry
Hint: What a cat in pain makes. Four letters, starts with Y.
20. Like some unsalted winter sidewalks
Hint: Hazardous to walk on. Three letters, starts with I.
21. ___ de plume
Hint: Writer's alias. Three letters, starts with N.
22. Atlanta-based public health org.
Hint: Disease control headquarters. Three letters, starts with C.
24. Maker of the Sorento, Sportage and Seltos S.U.V.s
Hint: Korean automaker. Three letters, starts with K.
25. What a person extends for a selfie
Hint: The limb holding the phone. Three letters, starts with A.
26. Opposite of nay
Hint: A vote in favor. Three letters, starts with Y.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Toy on a string
Answer: YOYO
5. Honoree the second Sunday of May
Answer: MOM
8. J. Cole's "4 Your ___ Only"
Answer: EYEZ
9. Leave out
Answer: OMIT
11. Park and Fifth in Manhattan: Abbr.
Answer: AVES
12. "Did you get that ___?" (iconic "Office Space" line)
Answer: MEMO
13. Unit for a stand-up comedian or musician
Answer: SET
14. Wise people
Answer: SAGES
15. Boxer who said "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"
Answer: TYSON
17. Podcast interruptions
Answer: ADS
18. Cunning
Answer: SLY
20. 1/12 of a foot
Answer: INCH
23. "Umm ... sure"
Answer: OKAY
27. Work in Python or C++
Answer: CODE
28. What a police informant might wear
Answer: WIRE
29. 1978 Village People anthem with a spelled-out title, as seen in this puzzle's shaded squares
Answer: YMCA
30. Dalai ___
Answer: LAMA
Down Answers
1. Ingredient that makes bread dough rise
Answer: YEAST
2. Yiddish comment of dismay
Answer: OYVEY
3. Throws with force, in modern lingo
Answer: YEETS
4. There are 16 in a lb.
Answer: OZS
5. N.Y.C. home of van Gogh's "The Starry Night"
Answer: MOMA
6. Last letter of the Greek alphabet
Answer: OMEGA
7. Played charades, perhaps
Answer: MIMED
10. Flip, as a coin
Answer: TOSS
14. Sketch show with Marcello Hernández, for short
Answer: SNL
16. Actor/rapper ___ Jackson Jr.
Answer: OSHEA
19. Loud, distressed cry
Answer: YOWL
20. Like some unsalted winter sidewalks
Answer: ICY
21. ___ de plume
Answer: NOM
22. Atlanta-based public health org.
Answer: CDC
24. Maker of the Sorento, Sportage and Seltos S.U.V.s
Answer: KIA
25. What a person extends for a selfie
Answer: ARM
26. Opposite of nay
Answer: YEA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 29A "1978 Village People anthem with a spelled-out title, as seen in this puzzle's shaded squares" for YMCA. The clue itself tells you the answer is spelled out in the grid, making it both a theme revealer and a self-aware construction trick.
Wordplay Winner: 2D "Yiddish comment of dismay" for OYVEY. It's a five-letter expression that packs more character than its three-letter cousin "oy vey," and the spelling catches solvers who only know the shorthand version.
Quick Fill: 1A "Toy on a string" for YOYO. The most straightforward clue in the grid and an instant confidence builder for solvers starting at the top left.
Speed Solver Tips
Wednesday's grid rewards pop culture fluency. If you know J. Cole's album titles and remember the "Office Space" memo scene, you're already halfway through the Across set. The YMCA shaded squares serve as a visual anchor, once you spot that pattern, the surrounding fill becomes predictable.
Notice the Y-heavy Down stack: YEAST, OYVEY, YEETS all run vertically through 1-3 Down. That's a deliberate construction choice that gives solvers a phonetic rhythm to follow. Lean into consonant clusters like Y-E-A and O-Y-V when you're stuck, they're calling cards for this grid.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the Village People anthem in the shaded squares and the Mike Tyson quote in 15A, Wednesday served up a puzzle that rewarded quick cultural recall over deep crossword knowledge. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
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