Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and a playful definition anchors a grid of everyday language, food trivia, and a movie reference. Come on in and see which clues click for you.
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: 1A is the trickiest, because its question mark invites you to reconsider what a coat can be.
Gimme Clue: 6A is the gimme, with a familiar waking preference pointing directly to the target.
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. Thin winter coat?
Hint: 1A points to an icy covering on an outdoor surface, rather than something hanging in a closet. Five letters, starts with F.
6A. When morning people like to wake up
Hint: 6A asks for the opposite of sleeping in. Five letters, starts with E.
7A. Option on the "How would you like to receive your receipt?" screen
Hint: 7A sends the receipt to your inbox instead of printing it. Five letters, starts with E.
8A. "Please, it would be my pleasure"
Hint: 8A is a conversational offer to take care of something yourself. Five letters, starts with L.
9A. Villain's facial expression
Hint: 9A suggests a contemptuous curl of the lip. Five letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1D. Perceives by touch
Hint: 1D describes detecting texture or temperature with your fingertips. Five letters, starts with F.
2D. Japanese dish with a name from Chinese ("pulled noodles")
Hint: 2D points to a Japanese noodle soup served with broth and toppings. Five letters, starts with R.
3D. Give a grand speech
Hint: 3D calls for a verb meaning to address an audience in a formal, elevated style. Five letters, starts with O.
4D. Gooey kids' toy
Hint: 4D is the squishy, stretchy stuff kids squeeze and pull. Five letters, starts with S.
5D. ___ Durden, Brad Pitt's character in "Fight Club"
Hint: 5D completes the name of the charismatic soap salesman played by Pitt. Five letters, starts with T.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. Thin winter coat?
Answer: FROST
6A. When morning people like to wake up
Answer: EARLY
7A. Option on the "How would you like to receive your receipt?" screen
Answer: EMAIL
8A. "Please, it would be my pleasure"
Answer: LETME
9A. Villain's facial expression
Answer: SNEER
Down Answers
1D. Perceives by touch
Answer: FEELS
2D. Japanese dish with a name from Chinese ("pulled noodles")
Answer: RAMEN
3D. Give a grand speech
Answer: ORATE
4D. Gooey kids' toy
Answer: SLIME
5D. ___ Durden, Brad Pitt's character in "Fight Club"
Answer: TYLER
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1A, "Thin winter coat?", earns its place with FROST. The clue turns a familiar garment phrase into a description of the delicate ice coating a cold surface.
Wordplay Winner: 8A supplies the conversational misdirection with LETME. The polite wording represents an offer to help, so the answer is an equivalent spoken phrase rather than a literal definition.
Quick Fill: EARLY at 6A is the fastest confident foothold because the waking preference is so direct. It supplies crossing letters for FEELS, RAMEN, ORATE, SLIME, and TYLER, opening every Down entry.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Use direct definitions such as EARLY and EMAIL to establish crossings before tackling the question mark at 1A. When a clue signals a joke, test a different meaning of its central noun, as coat becomes a surface covering in FROST.
For dialogue clues, imagine what you would say in the situation. LETME shows why a natural spoken response can fit better than a synonym for an individual word.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The direct clues give this grid a welcoming rhythm, while FROST adds a satisfying change of perspective. A small verbal twist is enough to make the finish memorable.
See you at the next grid.