Today's NYT Midi Crossword is live, and Wednesday's grid brings a Goonies-worthy treasure hunt through presidential history, pop music, and literary giants. Four starred clues lead to a payoff that fans of the 1985 adventure film will catch immediately.
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: 10x10
Total Clues: 33 (18 Across, 15 Down)
Trickiest Clue: "Bon ___ (clever remark)." The French-derived phrasing can trip solvers up.
Gimme Clue: "Wicked" A straightforward synonym that fills fast.
Theme Spotted: "I'm Here 4 U"
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Bon ___ (clever remark)
Hint: French for "word." Three letters, starts with M.
4. Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Bolt
Hint: The fastest man alive. First name, five letters, starts with U.
9. Wicked
Hint: The opposite of good. Four letters.
11. Burst of artillery fire
Hint: A military term for a simultaneous discharge. Five letters, starts with S.
12. Grandma, by another name
Hint: A common childhood nickname for grandmother. Four letters.
13. Really talked (up)
Hint: Over-the-top promotion. Five letters, starts with H.
14. Reconstruction-era figure Grant
Hint: 18th U.S. president. Seven letters, first name.
16. Word repeated in "___, no ___!"
Hint: A respectful address. Three letters.
17. Practice informally with a band
Hint: Musical improv session. Three letters.
20. "Oil!" author Sinclair
Hint: Muckraking journalist and novelist. Five letters, first name.
23. Unclothed
Hint: Naked. Four letters.
24. Melted chocolate, e.g.
Hint: Gooey substance. Three letters.
25. ___ boson
Hint: The "God particle" in particle physics. Five letters.
26. "Sup, fellas" ... or an appropriate greeting to the answers of the starred clues?
Hint: The Famous Words of Sloth from The Goonies. 10 letters, three words.
29. Overflows (with)
Hint: Abounds or is full of. Five letters, starts with T.
30. See 32-Across
Hint: A type of beer. Three letters.
31. Sprint
Hint: A short, fast run. Four letters.
32. With 30-Across, Irish beer with a colorful name
Hint: Think of a color name. Three letters.
Down Hints
1. Printout with course headings
Hint: What you'd find at a restaurant. Four letters.
2. Shape of a speed-skating track
Hint: Like an egg or a race track. Four letters.
3. Wee
Hint: Very small. Four letters.
4. "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" R&B star
Hint: 2000s-era pop and R&B singer. Five letters.
5. States out loud
Hint: Verbalizes. Four letters.
6. Swiss peak
Hint: A mountain in the Alps. Three letters.
7. "___ got a bad feeling about this ..."
Hint: "I ___ got..." Three letters.
8. Unspoken "I agree"
Hint: A head gesture. Three letters.
10. Cowboy's rope
Hint: A lariat. Five letters.
15. Gluttony or greed
Hint: A deadly vice. Three letters.
17. Apex predator with a rosette-patterned coat
Hint: A big cat found in Central and South America. Six letters.
18. Diamond-shaped sweater design
Hint: A classic knit pattern. Six letters.
19. Goofed (around)
Hint: Messed about. Six letters.
20. "Can we just not"
Hint: An expression of annoyance. Three letters.
21. Shakespeare or Shelley
Hint: A writer of verse. Four letters.
22. Played (with)
Hint: Fiddled or tampered. Five letters.
23. Tom Hanks film with the tagline "You're only young once!"
Hint: 1988 film where a boy wishes to be big. Three letters.
25. "Pipe down!"
Hint: "Be quiet!" Four letters.
27. Vote in favor
Hint: An affirmative vote. Three letters.
28. Meditation chants
Hint: Sacred syllables in Hinduism and Buddhism. Three letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Bon ___ (clever remark)
Answer: MOT
4. Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Bolt
Answer: USAIN
9. Wicked
Answer: EVIL
11. Burst of artillery fire
Answer: SALVO
12. Grandma, by another name
Answer: NANA
13. Really talked (up)
Answer: HYPED
14. Reconstruction-era figure Grant
Answer: ULYSSES
16. Word repeated in "___, no ___!"
Answer: SIR
17. Practice informally with a band
Answer: JAM
20. "Oil!" author Sinclair
Answer: UPTON
23. Unclothed
Answer: BARE
24. Melted chocolate, e.g.
Answer: GOO
25. ___ boson
Answer: HIGGS
26. "Sup, fellas" ... or an appropriate greeting to the answers of the starred clues?
Answer: HEYYOUGUYS
29. Overflows (with)
Answer: TEEMS
30. See 32-Across
Answer: ALE
31. Sprint
Answer: DASH
32. With 30-Across, Irish beer with a colorful name
Answer: RED
Down Answers
1. Printout with course headings
Answer: MENU
2. Shape of a speed-skating track
Answer: OVAL
3. Wee
Answer: TINY
4. "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" R&B star
Answer: USHER
5. States out loud
Answer: SAYS
6. Swiss peak
Answer: ALP
7. "___ got a bad feeling about this ..."
Answer: IVE
8. Unspoken "I agree"
Answer: NOD
10. Cowboy's rope
Answer: LASSO
15. Gluttony or greed
Answer: SIN
17. Apex predator with a rosette-patterned coat
Answer: JAGUAR
18. Diamond-shaped sweater design
Answer: ARGYLE
19. Goofed (around)
Answer: MESSED
20. "Can we just not"
Answer: UGH
21. Shakespeare or Shelley
Answer: POET
22. Played (with)
Answer: TOYED
23. Tom Hanks film with the tagline "You're only young once!"
Answer: BIG
25. "Pipe down!"
Answer: HUSH
27. Vote in favor
Answer: YEA
28. Meditation chants
Answer: OMS
Grid Breakdown
Standout Clue: 26-Across "HEYYOUGUYS" for the full themed payoff. The four starred answers (USAIN, ULYSSES, UPTON, USHER) are all famous figures who could be greeted with Sloth's iconic line from The Goonies. It's a pop culture deep cut that rewards solvers who complete the entire theme set.
Wordplay Winner: 1-Down "Printout with course headings" for MENU. The misdirection is clean: "course headings" suggests academic courses, but the answer is a restaurant menu. A classic crossword trick executed well.
Quick Fill: 9-Across "Wicked" for EVIL. A straight synonym with no wordplay. Four letters, instant fill.
Speed Solver Tips
Starred clues often form a set. When you see multiple starred entries, solve them all before tackling the revealer (26-Across). USAIN, ULYSSES, UPTON, and USHER all share a U-first-name pattern that locks in quickly once you spot it.
Short fill-ins like NANA, GOO, and ALE are your friends. Drop those in early to build cross letters for the longer themed answers. A three-letter beer (ALE) is a crossword staple, and RED (32-Across) paired with it confirms the Irish beer connection.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Midi drops tomorrow. How did today's grid treat you? The HEYYOUGUYS theme is one of the more creative revealers in recent Midi puzzles, blending pop culture with historical figures in a way that rewards pattern recognition. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
