Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's grid takes solvers on a trip to San Francisco via circled letters, pairing geography with pop culture and classic crossword fill. 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 (16 Across, 14 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Singer Lisa with the #1 hit 'Stay (I Missed You)'"
Gimme Clue: "The Cavaliers, on N.B.A. scoreboards." Three-letter sports abbreviations are free squares.
Theme Spotted: "Plot Twists"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. ___ and chain
Hint: Think of what's attached to an anchor or a prisoner's leg.
5. Grp. running the National Palm Print System
Hint: Three-letter government agency. They also maintain the nation's fingerprint database.
8. Utter pandemonium
Hint: Complete disorder. Five letters, starts with C.
10. Living room curtain holder
Hint: A straight piece of metal or wood that runs across a window frame.
11. Brief film appearance
Hint: A short, often uncredited role. Think Hitchcock's signature appearances.
12. Early leader in dial-up internet
Hint: Three letters. Their CDs were everywhere in the 1990s.
13. Charlotte who wrote "Jane Eyre"
Hint: One of the famous literary sisters. Six letters, ends with E.
15. Egg cells
Hint: Three letters. Starts with O, ends with A.
18. Borderline salacious
Hint: Risque or slightly inappropriate. Four letters, starts with R.
19. Overly anxious sort
Hint: Someone with obsessive tendencies. Eight letters.
21. Provide funds for
Hint: To finance or support. Five letters, starts with E.
22. With 5-Down, U.S. city with the iconic "crookedest street in the world," as hinted at in the circled letters
Hint: Three-letter abbreviation for a California city. Paired with 5-Down.
24. A little off
Hint: Not quite right. Five letters, starts with A.
25. The Cavaliers, on N.B.A. scoreboards
Hint: Three-letter city abbreviation. Home of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
26. Oodles and oodles
Hint: Large amounts. Four letters, starts with L.
27. So last year
Hint: Past its prime. Three letters, starts with O.
Down Hints
1. Email field that protects privacy
Hint: Three-letter acronym. Sends a copy without other recipients knowing.
2. "Oh, I get it now"
Hint: An exclamation of sudden understanding. Three letters.
3. On the ___ (fleeing)
Hint: Three letters. Often followed by "from the law."
4. Singer Lisa with the #1 hit "Stay (I Missed You)"
Hint: She performed the theme song from "Reality Bites." Four letters.
5. See 22-Across
Hint: The second half of a famous California city name. Nine letters.
6. Rendezvous in the wee hours, maybe
Hint: A late-night romantic meeting. Nine letters, starts with B.
7. Not doing much
Hint: Inactive or lazy. Four letters, starts with I.
9. Woes
Hint: Troubles or misfortunes. Seven letters, starts with S.
14. Grain used in making many cereals
Hint: A breakfast staple. Three letters, starts with O.
15. N.B.A. great Shaquille
Hint: Five letters. His nickname is Shaq.
16. App with a "Pay/Request" button
Hint: Peer-to-peer payment platform. Five letters.
17. I.R.S. investigation
Hint: A review of financial records. Five letters, starts with A.
20. Friend on "Friends"
Hint: The paleontologist. Four letters.
23. ___ Sampson, protagonist on Peacock's "The Paper"
Hint: Three letters. A common short name.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. ___ and chain
Answer: BALL
5. Grp. running the National Palm Print System
Answer: FBI
8. Utter pandemonium
Answer: CHAOS
10. Living room curtain holder
Answer: ROD
11. Brief film appearance
Answer: CAMEO
12. Early leader in dial-up internet
Answer: AOL
13. Charlotte who wrote "Jane Eyre"
Answer: BRONTE
15. Egg cells
Answer: OVA
18. Borderline salacious
Answer: RACY
19. Overly anxious sort
Answer: NEUROTIC
21. Provide funds for
Answer: ENDOW
22. With 5-Down, U.S. city with the iconic "crookedest street in the world," as hinted at in the circled letters
Answer: SAN
24. A little off
Answer: AMISS
25. The Cavaliers, on N.B.A. scoreboards
Answer: CLE
26. Oodles and oodles
Answer: LOTS
27. So last year
Answer: OLD
Down Answers
1. Email field that protects privacy
Answer: BCC
2. "Oh, I get it now"
Answer: AHA
3. On the ___ (fleeing)
Answer: LAM
4. Singer Lisa with the #1 hit "Stay (I Missed You)"
Answer: LOEB
5. See 22-Across
Answer: FRANCISCO
6. Rendezvous in the wee hours, maybe
Answer: BOOTYCALL
7. Not doing much
Answer: IDLE
9. Woes
Answer: SORROWS
14. Grain used in making many cereals
Answer: OAT
15. N.B.A. great Shaquille
Answer: ONEAL
16. App with a "Pay/Request" button
Answer: VENMO
17. I.R.S. investigation
Answer: AUDIT
20. Friend on "Friends"
Answer: ROSS
23. ___ Sampson, protagonist on Peacock's "The Paper"
Answer: NED
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: "Singer Lisa with the #1 hit 'Stay (I Missed You)'" for LOEB. Lisa Loeb's 1994 breakthrough was the first Billboard Hot 100 #1 by an unsigned artist, making this a piece of music history trivia that rewards 90s pop knowledge.
Wordplay Winner: 22-Across and 5-Down combining into SAN FRANCISCO. The circled letters turn a two-part clue into a satisfying reveal, with Lombard Street's "crookedest street" nickname as the payoff.
Quick Fill: 25-Across "The Cavaliers, on N.B.A. scoreboards" for CLE. Sports abbreviations are among the most reliable gimmes in crossword puzzles.
Speed Solver Tips
Today's puzzle rewards pop culture breadth. If you hit a wall on 4-Down (LOEB), pivot to the intersecting Across entries. BOOTYCALL (6-Down) is a clue that reads more risqué than it plays, but its letter count and crossing answers make it solvable without the slang.
Watch for circled-letter themes. When you see 22-Across and 5-Down referencing each other, fill both simultaneously. SAN and FRANCISCO are interdependent, and solving them together is faster than guessing one in isolation.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The San Francisco theme and Lisa Loeb deep cut made this Wednesday puzzle more rewarding than punishing. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
