Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's grid brings a playful mix of food slang, pop culture shorthand, and satisfying short fill. Clocking in at 9x9 with 30 total clues, this puzzle rewards solvers who think in idioms and know their K-pop.
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 (13 Across, 17 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Tubes used to power nuclear reactors"
Gimme Clue: "Cookie often dunked in milk"
Theme Spotted: "Compliments to the chef!"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Rubs the wrong way
Hint: Four letters. Starts with I. Think about what annoys or irritates.
5. A few singles at a coffee shop, perhaps
Hint: Three letters. What you leave for good service.
8. Submissive
Hint: Four letters. The opposite of bold or assertive. Rhymes with "leek."
9. Seethe with anger
Hint: Four letters. Starts with F. Steam coming out of your ears.
10. Voting against
Hint: Four letters. The "no" side of a debate.
11. Meter or liter
Hint: Four letters. A standard of measurement.
12. "Compliments to the chef! The garbanzos were rad!"
Hint: Eight letters. Two words. A slang term meaning "awesome" that involves a temperature and a legume.
14. Liquid in a deep fryer
Hint: Three letters. You use it for frying everything from fries to chicken.
15. "Compliments to the chef! The meat sauce was awesome!"
Hint: Eight letters. Two words. An old-timey expression of approval involving a condiment.
21. Breath-taking organ?
Hint: Four letters. You have two of them. They fill with air.
22. Cookie often dunked in milk
Hint: Four letters. Two chocolate wafers with a cream center.
23. "Ah, gotcha"
Hint: Four letters. Two words. What you say when understanding dawns.
24. First word of a formal letter, often
Hint: Four letters. It's how you address someone. Starts with D.
25. K-pop group also known as Bangtan Boys
Hint: Three letters. One of the biggest music acts in the world.
26. Red tag event
Hint: Four letters. Stores have these to clear out inventory.
Down Hints
1. All-in-one Apple computer
Hint: Four letters. A desktop with the computer built into the monitor.
2. Nevada city
Hint: Four letters. Known for casinos and the "Biggest Little City in the World."
3. High-fat diet, for short
Hint: Four letters. A popular low-carb eating plan.
4. Where you might sip hot cocoa on a mountain
Hint: Seven letters. A warm building at a ski resort.
5. ___ melt
Hint: Four letters. A hot sandwich with cheese and... fish.
6. "Sign me up!"
Hint: Four letters. Two words. An enthusiastic agreement to participate.
7. Rewards for sitting and rolling over, perhaps
Hint: Four letters. What you give a dog for following commands.
9. Tubes used to power nuclear reactors
Hint: Eight letters. Two words. The radioactive core of a power plant.
13. Massive
Hint: Three letters. Synonym for huge or enormous.
15. Smooth-talking
Hint: Four letters. Slick and persuasive with words.
16. Forcibly remove from power
Hint: Four letters. What happens in a coup.
17. Vending machine bills
Hint: Four letters. Dollar... something. Plural.
18. Base x height, for a rectangle
Hint: Four letters. A geometry calculation.
19. Meat in Wiener schnitzel
Hint: Four letters. A type of tender, pale meat.
20. Days of ___
Hint: Four letters. A phrase meaning long ago. Rhymes with "roar."
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Rubs the wrong way
Answer: IRKS
5. A few singles at a coffee shop, perhaps
Answer: TIP
8. Submissive
Answer: MEEK
9. Seethe with anger
Answer: FUME
10. Voting against
Answer: ANTI
11. Meter or liter
Answer: UNIT
12. "Compliments to the chef! The garbanzos were rad!"
Answer: COOLBEANS
14. Liquid in a deep fryer
Answer: OIL
15. "Compliments to the chef! The meat sauce was awesome!"
Answer: GOODGRAVY
21. Breath-taking organ?
Answer: LUNG
22. Cookie often dunked in milk
Answer: OREO
23. "Ah, gotcha"
Answer: ISEE
24. First word of a formal letter, often
Answer: DEAR
25. K-pop group also known as Bangtan Boys
Answer: BTS
26. Red tag event
Answer: SALE
Down Answers
1. All-in-one Apple computer
Answer: IMAC
2. Nevada city
Answer: RENO
3. High-fat diet, for short
Answer: KETO
4. Where you might sip hot cocoa on a mountain
Answer: SKILODGE
5. ___ melt
Answer: TUNA
6. "Sign me up!"
Answer: IMIN
7. Rewards for sitting and rolling over, perhaps
Answer: PETS
9. Tubes used to power nuclear reactors
Answer: FUELRODS
13. Massive
Answer: BIG
15. Smooth-talking
Answer: GLIB
16. Forcibly remove from power
Answer: OUST
17. Vending machine bills
Answer: ONES
18. Base x height, for a rectangle
Answer: AREA
19. Meat in Wiener schnitzel
Answer: VEAL
20. Days of ___
Answer: YORE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Compliments to the chef! The garbanzos were rad!" for COOLBEANS. It's a two-layer pun: the answer itself is a slang term for "awesome," and the clue's mention of garbanzos (beans) directly hints at the "beans" half of the answer. Clever construction.
Wordplay Winner: "Breath-taking organ?" for LUNG. The question mark signals wordplay, and "breath-taking" works both as a descriptor (breathtaking views) and a literal instruction (the organ that takes in breath).
Quick Fill: "Cookie often dunked in milk" for OREO. It's the most recognizable cookie brand in crossword puzzles, and a guaranteed gimme for almost any solver.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
When you see a question mark in a clue, expect wordplay. "Breath-taking organ?" isn't asking for a literal organ in the "organization" sense, and the question mark is your signal to think creatively. Train yourself to spot question marks instantly, they're the constructor's way of telling you to look for a double meaning.
Theme answers often cross with other long entries, making them high-value targets. COOLBEANS and GOODGRAVY both clock in at eight letters, and locking in one will likely give you significant progress on surrounding crosses. Prioritize the longest answers first.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? Between the slangy chef compliments and the satisfying short fill, Wednesday's puzzle offered a warm-up that didn't waste time. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
