Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and a sly clothing clue adds a twist to a grid of everyday objects, familiar phrases, and trivia. Welcome in, and give the playful wording a little room to work.
How The Mini Works
The Mini is a compact version of the classic NYT Crossword, typically featuring a 5x5 grid with five Across and five Down clues. Saturdays expand to a larger grid with more clues. Solve the intersecting words, and when the grid is complete, you'll hear a satisfying chime. No streak tracking here, but the built-in timer lets you compete against yourself or challenge friends.
New puzzles drop at 10 p.m. EST on weekdays and Saturdays. Sunday's Mini arrives earlier at 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.
Quick Scan
In a rush? Here's the at-a-glance breakdown for today's puzzle:
Grid Size: 7x7
Total Clues: 14 (7 Across, 7 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 8A is the trickiest clue because its compact wording invites a letter puzzle before the clothing meaning comes into focus.
Gimme Clue: 11A is the clearest gimme, a familiar conversational phrase whose missing verb falls naturally into place.
Theme Spotted: None today, straight trivia and wordplay.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. R.N.'s co-workers
Hint: 1A: Think of physicians working alongside nurses, with the clue's abbreviation guiding the form. Three letters, starts with M.
4A. Piles upon piles
Hint: 4A: Look for a plural noun meaning large accumulations. Five letters, starts with H.
6A. Alternative to body wash
Hint: 6A: Think of a solid cleanser you lather between your hands. Seven letters, starts with B.
8A. O in a tee?
Hint: 8A: Treat the tee as clothing and the O as an opening. Seven letters, starts with A.
9A. Exercise expert
Hint: 9A: Think of someone who guides your workouts and checks your technique. Seven letters, starts with T.
10A. "Oof ... that's not good"
Hint: 10A: Reach for an exclamation of alarm at an unwelcome development. Five letters, starts with Y.
11A. "I see what you ___ there"
Hint: 11A: Complete the familiar phrase with a past-tense verb acknowledging someone's clever move. Three letters, starts with D.
Down Hints
1D. Half woman, half fish
Hint: 1D: Picture a mythical sea creature with a woman's upper body and a fish's tail. Seven letters, starts with M.
2D. West African shirt
Hint: 2D: Think of a loose pullover shirt associated with West Africa, often featuring a decorative neckline. Seven letters, starts with D.
3D. Cuddled closely
Hint: 3D: Picture cuddling while lying on your sides, facing the same direction. Seven letters, starts with S.
4D. William's brother in the British monarchy
Hint: 4D: Think of the British prince who is William's younger brother. Five letters, starts with H.
5D. Register ring-ups
Hint: 5D: The register is a checkout device, and the answer names the transactions it records. Five letters, starts with S.
6D. Crack of the ___ (ballpark sound)
Hint: 6D: Think of the implement a hitter swings to produce that sharp sound. Three letters, starts with B.
7D. The "p" of m.p.h.
Hint: 7D: Expand the speed abbreviation and focus on the linking word between distance and time. Three letters, starts with P.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. R.N.'s co-workers
Answer: MDS
4A. Piles upon piles
Answer: HEAPS
6A. Alternative to body wash
Answer: BARSOAP
8A. O in a tee?
Answer: ARMHOLE
9A. Exercise expert
Answer: TRAINER
10A. "Oof ... that's not good"
Answer: YIKES
11A. "I see what you ___ there"
Answer: DID
Down Answers
1D. Half woman, half fish
Answer: MERMAID
2D. West African shirt
Answer: DASHIKI
3D. Cuddled closely
Answer: SPOONED
4D. William's brother in the British monarchy
Answer: HARRY
5D. Register ring-ups
Answer: SALES
6D. Crack of the ___ (ballpark sound)
Answer: BAT
7D. The "p" of m.p.h.
Answer: PER
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 8A, "O in a tee?", gives ARMHOLE and defines the grid's playful streak. The O suggests an opening, while "tee" supplies the T-shirt containing it.
Wordplay Winner: ARMHOLE wins the wordplay prize because "O in a tee?" initially looks like a question about letters. Reading "tee" as a garment turns that apparent letter puzzle into a physical opening.
Quick Fill: 11A's DID is the fastest confident fill, completing "I see what you ___ there" with a familiar verb. It anchors the bottom by supplying the final letters of MERMAID, DASHIKI, and SPOONED.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use direct phrases such as 11A's DID to establish crossings before tackling specialized vocabulary such as DASHIKI. A secure crossing is useful evidence when the clue points to an unfamiliar garment.
When a question-mark clue stalls, try another meaning of its everyday words. ARMHOLE rewards reading "tee" as clothing, a useful reminder to test the literal object behind an apparent letter trick.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct clues offer steady footholds, while ARMHOLE supplies the satisfying shift in perspective. That balance gives the grid a friendly feel with a sharp little wink.
See you at the next grid.
