Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and a sound-alike link gives familiar sayings and stage trivia a playful twist. Come on in and enjoy the clues.
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 it asks for a specific Broadway credit from Sadie Sink's early career.
Gimme Clue: 1A is the clearest gimme, with a familiar proverb about thrift supplying an immediate foothold.
Theme Spotted: A sound-alike link between 1A and 1D.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1A. "___ not, want not"
Hint: 1A asks you to complete a proverb about conserving what you have. Five letters, starts with W.
6A. Get under the skin of
Hint: 6A describes provoking irritation, with the skin reference used figuratively. Five letters, starts with A.
7A. Truly amazed
Hint: 7A calls for a phrase describing someone overwhelmed by wonder. Five letters, starts with I.
8A. Knighted fellows
Hint: 8A wants the plural honorific used for men who have received knighthoods. Four letters, starts with S.
9A. "Plain white" article of clothing for James Dean
Hint: 9A points to the casual, short-sleeved shirt associated with James Dean's look. Three letters, starts with T.
Down Hints
1D. Body part that's a homophone of 1-Across
Hint: For 1D, say your 1A fill aloud and think of the body region where a belt sits. Five letters, starts with W.
2D. Broadway musical in which Sadie Sink got her start (at age 10!)
Hint: 2D points to the musical about a redheaded orphan whose optimism carries her through hardship. Five letters, starts with A.
3D. Part of a drum kit
Hint: 3D wants the drum known for a crisp rattle produced by wires against its lower head. Five letters, starts with S.
4D. Hauls away, as a car
Hint: 4D describes pulling a vehicle away behind another vehicle. Four letters, starts with T.
5D. One of five for a dragonfly
Hint: 5D points to an organ used for sight. Three letters, starts with E.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1A. "___ not, want not"
Answer: WASTE
6A. Get under the skin of
Answer: ANNOY
7A. Truly amazed
Answer: INAWE
8A. Knighted fellows
Answer: SIRS
9A. "Plain white" article of clothing for James Dean
Answer: TEE
Down Answers
1D. Body part that's a homophone of 1-Across
Answer: WAIST
2D. Broadway musical in which Sadie Sink got her start (at age 10!)
Answer: ANNIE
3D. Part of a drum kit
Answer: SNARE
4D. Hauls away, as a car
Answer: TOWS
5D. One of five for a dragonfly
Answer: EYE
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 1D, "Body part that's a homophone of 1-Across," gives WAIST. It defines the grid's playful core by turning the sound of WASTE into an anatomical answer with a different spelling.
Wordplay Winner: 6A, "Get under the skin of," earns the wordplay nod with ANNOY. The clue uses a bodily image to describe irritation rather than anything happening beneath the skin.
Quick Fill: 1A's WASTE is the fastest confident fill because the proverb supplies a familiar completion. Across the top row, it supplies the opening letters of WAIST, ANNIE, SNARE, TOWS, and EYE.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Fill a familiar quotation before tackling a clue that references it. Here, WASTE at 1A makes the sound-alike WAIST at 1D much easier to recognize.
When a biographical clue stalls you, build its answer through clearer crossings. At 2D, ANNIE crosses WASTE, ANNOY, IN AWE, SIRS, and TEE, so the Across clues offer a route through the Broadway reference.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The grid offers familiar language as a foothold and a Broadway credit as its sharper test. WAIST supplies the satisfying payoff, turning a completed proverb into a neat sound-alike connection.
See you at the next grid.
