Today's NYT Mini Crossword is live, and Tuesday's grid brings a crisp 5x5 mix of slang, food trivia, and a deep-cut U2 reference. 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: "___, dos, tres, catorce!" (famously inaccurate start to U2's "Vertigo"), requires knowing the band's on-purpose miscount
Gimme Clue: "Slangy greeting", three letters, starts with S. You say it all day.
Theme Spotted: None today, a clean mix of everyday vocabulary and pop culture
Clue Decoder (Hints Only)
Need a nudge without the full answer? Here's a hint for each clue.
Across Hints
1. Slangy greeting
Hint: What you say when you nod at a friend. Three letters, starts with S.
4. Turn down an offer
Hint: Two words, five letters total. The polite way to decline.
6. Banknotes across the Atlantic
Hint: European currency, five letters, plural.
7. Part of pizza that roughly 20% of people don't eat, according to YouGov polling
Hint: The outer edge. Five letters.
8. Interact with a smartphone screen
Hint: What your finger does on a touchscreen. Three letters.
Down Hints
1. Many a Starbucks flavoring
Hint: Sweet liquid you add to coffee. Five letters, starts with S.
2. "___, dos, tres, catorce!" (famously inaccurate start to U2's "Vertigo")
Hint: The Spanish word for "one", but Bono deliberately gets it wrong in the song.
3. Tweet, e.g.
Hint: What you publish on social media. Four letters.
4. Religious offshoot
Hint: A smaller group that split from a larger faith. Four letters.
5. Overall vibe
Hint: The feeling or atmosphere of a place. Four letters, starts with A.
Full Answers
Spoilers below. Scroll only when you're ready for the solutions.
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Across Answers
1. Slangy greeting
Answer: SUP
4. Turn down an offer
Answer: SAYNO
6. Banknotes across the Atlantic
Answer: EUROS
7. Part of pizza that roughly 20% of people don't eat, according to YouGov polling
Answer: CRUST
8. Interact with a smartphone screen
Answer: TAP
Down Answers
1. Many a Starbucks flavoring
Answer: SYRUP
2. "___, dos, tres, catorce!" (famously inaccurate start to U2's "Vertigo")
Answer: UNOS
3. Tweet, e.g.
Answer: POST
4. Religious offshoot
Answer: SECT
5. Overall vibe
Answer: AURA
Grid Breakdown
Here's what made today's puzzle tick:
Standout Clue: 2-Down, "___, dos, tres, catorce!" for UNOS. Bono famously botched the Spanish counting in "Vertigo," singing "uno, dos, tres, catorce" (one, two, three, fourteen) instead of "uno, dos, tres, cuatro." It's the kind of trivia that separates casual solvers from the committed.
Wordplay Winner: 7-Across, "Part of pizza that roughly 20% of people don't eat" for CRUST. The specificity from the YouGov polling makes this clue sing. It's a common answer delivered through an unexpected statistical lens.
Quick Fill: 8-Across, "Interact with a smartphone screen" for TAP. Three letters, instant recognition. The kind of gimme that buys you time on the rest of the grid.
Speed Solver Tips
Looking to shave seconds off your time? Here's what today's puzzle teaches:
Intersections are your fastest path to hard clues. Notice how 2-Down (UNOS) crosses 1-Across (SUP) and 6-Across (EUROS). Lock in SUP and EUROS first, and the U and O in UNOS become free letters. You only need to confirm the N and S.
When a clue references pop culture with deliberate errors, like Bono's miscount, flag it as wordplay, not a mistake. Crossword constructors love embedding famous flubs. If the clue sounds intentionally wrong, the answer probably is too.
Tomorrow's Puzzle
The next Mini drops tonight at 10 p.m. EST. How did today's grid treat you? Whether the U2 deep cut tripped you up or the pizza crust stat gave you a laugh, every puzzle sharpens your instincts for the next one.
See you at the next grid.
