Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and leans on direct trivia, conversational phrasing, and one crisp piece of visual misdirection. Settle in for a friendly grid with satisfying crossings.
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: 5x5
Total Clues: 10 (5 Across, 5 Down)
Trickiest Clue: 2D is the trickiest clue because “wings on the side” initially sounds like a restaurant order rather than a description of shape.
Gimme Clue: 6A is the clearest gimme, since the Disney character description points to one unmistakable pet.
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. Big ___ (cuddling partner)
Hint: For 1A, think of the larger partner in a familiar cuddling arrangement. Five letters, starts with S.
6A. Mickey Mouse's pet dog
Hint: For 6A, recall the orange canine companion who belongs to Disney's famous mouse. Five letters, starts with P.
7A. Foamy coffee order
Hint: For 7A, picture espresso softened with steamed milk and a cap of foam. Five letters, starts with L.
8A. Inside information, informally
Hint: For 8A, use the casual term for confidential information. Five letters, starts with I.
9A. Blue streams down a yellow emoji's face
Hint: For 9A, name what the blue streaks on the yellow face represent. Five letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1D. Divide, as the check
Hint: For 1D, think of what diners ask a server to do with one shared check. Five letters, starts with S.
2D. It comes with wings on the side
Hint: For 2D, picture a vehicle whose two wings extend from its sides. Five letters, starts with P.
3D. "Get ___ town!"
Hint: For 3D, supply the contracted words in the emphatic command to leave town. Five letters, starts with O.
4D. Furry animal seen swimming around a kelp forest
Hint: For 4D, look for a playful marine mammal that floats and forages among kelp. Five letters, starts with O.
5D. Christmas carols
Hint: For 5D, use the plural term for traditional Christmas songs. Five letters, starts with N.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Big ___ (cuddling partner)
Answer: SPOON
6A. Mickey Mouse's pet dog
Answer: PLUTO
7A. Foamy coffee order
Answer: LATTE
8A. Inside information, informally
Answer: INTEL
9A. Blue streams down a yellow emoji's face
Answer: TEARS
Down Answers
1D. Divide, as the check
Answer: SPLIT
2D. It comes with wings on the side
Answer: PLANE
3D. "Get ___ town!"
Answer: OUTTA
4D. Furry animal seen swimming around a kelp forest
Answer: OTTER
5D. Christmas carols
Answer: NOELS
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1A, “Big ___ (cuddling partner),” lands on SPOON. It works because “big spoon” is the established name for the outside partner in that cuddling position, making the fill warm, concrete, and instantly recognizable.
Wordplay Winner: 2D wins the wordplay prize with PLANE. “Wings on the side” evokes a plated food order, but the clue literally describes an aircraft's construction.
Quick Fill: 6A, PLUTO, is the fastest confident fill because the Disney clue is direct and specific. Its row crosses SPLIT, PLANE, OUTTA, OTTER, and NOELS, giving every Down entry immediate support.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Enter unmistakable proper-name trivia such as PLUTO first, then use the full row of crossings to test conversational entries such as OUTTA.
When a clue paints an odd visual, read it literally before chasing an idiom. That approach turns the side-mounted wings in 2D into PLANE and keeps the food-order misdirection from slowing the grid.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
This grid treated solvers kindly with clean trivia and sturdy crossings, then added a neat sideways wink through PLANE. SPOON supplied the coziest answer and the puzzle's most memorable finish.
See you at the next grid.
