Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Monday's grid brings a crisp 5x5 with a clean spring theme woven through the answers. Whether you're racing the clock or just enjoying a quick brain break, we've got hints and answers to keep you moving.
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: 3-Down "That's a ___!" (You're making a huge assumption!), requires a sharp ear for casual speech patterns.
Gimme Clue: 8-Across "Ctrl+P command" is dead simple for anyone who's touched a keyboard.
Theme Spotted: A subtle spring/avian thread.
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Avian symbol of spring
Hint: Red-breasted songbird that migrates north when winter ends. Five letters, starts with R.
6. Visible part of a book on a bookshelf
Hint: The part that faces outward when a book is shelved. Also a part of your back. Five letters.
7. What happens there stays there, in a saying
Hint: A famous city in Nevada known for casinos and catchphrases. Five letters.
8. Ctrl+P command
Hint: What you do to a document before signing it or filing it away. Five letters.
9. The bad guys in "The Bad Guys" often try to crack one
Hint: A locked box for valuables. Four letters, starts with S.
Down Hints
1. Says "I'll be there" or "I can't make it"
Hint: An acronym for a French phrase about confirming attendance. Four letters, ends with S.
2. Web browser whose logo is a red O
Hint: A Norwegian company behind a popular browser. Five letters, starts with O.
3. "That's a ___!" ("You're making a huge assumption!")
Hint: Two words compressed into one. Think "big" + "if." Five letters.
4. Truly stupid
Hint: A five-letter word meaning absurdly foolish. Starts with I, ends with E.
5. Home for a 1-Across
Hint: A bird's shelter made of twigs and grass. Four letters.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Avian symbol of spring
Answer: ROBIN
6. Visible part of a book on a bookshelf
Answer: SPINE
7. What happens there stays there, in a saying
Answer: VEGAS
8. Ctrl+P command
Answer: PRINT
9. The bad guys in "The Bad Guys" often try to crack one
Answer: SAFE
Down Answers
1. Says "I'll be there" or "I can't make it"
Answer: RSVPS
2. Web browser whose logo is a red O
Answer: OPERA
3. "That's a ___!" ("You're making a huge assumption!")
Answer: BIGIF
4. Truly stupid
Answer: INANE
5. Home for a 1-Across
Answer: NEST
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 3-Down "That's a ___!" ("You're making a huge assumption!") for BIGIF. This is a fantastic bit of compressed wordplay. The phrase "big if" gets fused into a single portmanteau that sounds natural in casual speech but looks unusual on paper. It's exactly the kind of clue that rewards solvers who read aloud in their head.
Wordplay Winner: 1-Down RSVPS for "Says 'I'll be there' or 'I can't make it'." The clue elegantly covers both affirmative and negative responses to an invitation, and the pluralized acronym RSVPS (as a verb) is a clever twist on the standard RSVP abbreviation.
Quick Fill: 8-Across "Ctrl+P command" for PRINT. It's a universal keyboard shortcut that anyone who's ever used a computer knows instantly. Zero hesitation required.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Start with the tech and keyboard clues for quick wins. 8-Across (PRINT) and 2-Down (OPERA) are both high-confidence fills that give you solid anchor points. Ctrl+P is muscle memory for anyone who works at a desk, and Opera's distinctive red-O logo is a recognizable brand identifier.
Watch for cross-references between clues. 5-Down "Home for a 1-Across" explicitly points you back to 1-Across (ROBIN), so if you've got ROBIN filled in, NEST drops in automatically. The Mini loves these nested cross-references, they're designed to reward solvers who connect the dots.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? That BIGIF clue is a keeper, compressed wordplay like that trains your ear for how puzzles bend everyday language. Every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
