The clue, "Things kids may jump into in the fall," uses "fall" to refer to autumn, a season when leaves fall from trees. Kids often gather these fallen leaves into piles for fun, which they jump into. Thus, "LEAFPILES" fits both the literal and playful aspects of the clue.
Across
The clue [Gasp!] is enclosed in brackets, indicating a nonverbal expression or sound. "OHNO" is a common exclamation expressing shock, surprise, or dismay—reactions akin to a gasp. It captures the emotional response implied by the clue perfectly!
5Subject of the W.W. II book "Normandy '44"DDAY????✨ See Why
The book "Normandy '44" focuses on the pivotal World War II event, D-Day, which occurred on June 6, 1944. This historic Allied invasion of Normandy marked a major turning point in the war. Therefore, DDAY is the correct answer as it refers directly to this significant event.
9Apt stock ticker symbol for ... PetcoWOOF????✨ See Why
The clue uses wordplay with "Apt stock ticker symbol for ... Petco." Petco trades under a pet-themed ticker, and “woof,” the sound a dog makes, neatly represents its focus on pets and pet care products.
10... FerrariRACE????✨ See Why
Ferrari uses the ticker “RACE,” which directly reflects its identity as a maker of elite racing cars and its deep roots in motorsport culture.
11Things kids may jump into in the fallLEAFPILES?????????✨ See Why
The clue, "Things kids may jump into in the fall," uses "fall" to refer to autumn, a season when leaves fall from trees. Kids often gather these fallen leaves into piles for fun, which they jump into. Thus, "LEAFPILES" fits both the literal and playful aspects of the clue.
13Like some challenging marathon terrainHILLY?????✨ See Why
The answer is HILLY because marathon courses with many hills are more physically demanding, making them challenging for runners. "Like some" suggests this isn't true for all marathons, but describes a common difficulty. Hilly terrain tests endurance with constant elevation changes, fitting the clue perfectly.
14Baseball legend RipkenCAL???✨ See Why
The answer "CAL" refers to Cal Ripken Jr., a legendary baseball player known as the "Iron Man" for his record-breaking streak of 2,632 consecutive games played in Major League Baseball. He spent his career with the Baltimore Orioles and is one of baseball's all-time greats.
15Sudden inability to putt or throw a baseball, informallyTHEYIPS???????✨ See Why
"THE YIPS" is an informal term for a sudden, often psychological inability to perform a simple skill like putting in golf or throwing in baseball. It describes the nervousness or mental block that disrupts the player's usual routine, matching the clue's description perfectly.
19Listen toHEAR????✨ See Why
The clue "Listen to" defines the act of perceiving sound with the ears. "Hear" directly means to listen or perceive sounds, making it the perfect match. It is a straightforward synonym based on the context of the clue.
20Served without ice, as a drinkNEAT????✨ See Why
In bartending, a "neat" drink is one served without any ice, water, or mixer—just the pure liquor in a glass. The clue directly describes this serving style, making NEAT the correct answer.
22R&B singer ReddingOTIS????✨ See Why
The answer is OTIS because Otis Redding was a legendary R&B singer known for hits like "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." His last name, Redding, directly points to him in the clue, making OTIS the correct solution.
23Fancy partyGALA????✨ See Why
The clue "Fancy party" directly describes a GALA, which is a luxurious, formal event often involving elaborate festivities, glamorous attire, and sometimes fundraising. "Fancy" highlights the grandeur of such events, perfectly aligning with the definition of a GALA.
24Work well togetherGEL???✨ See Why
The solution "GEL" fits because it means to come together harmoniously, just like how ingredients in a gel blend smoothly. When people or ideas "work well together," they "gel," metaphorically forming a unified, cohesive whole. This captures the sense of collaboration implied in the clue.
25Weight room unitREP???✨ See Why
In weightlifting, "REP" is short for "repetition," which refers to a single complete movement of an exercise (e.g., one push-up or squat). Since workouts often count exercises in reps, it’s considered a fundamental "unit" in the weight room, fitting the clue perfectly.
Down
1Bird with excellent night visionOWL???✨ See Why
The answer is OWL because owls are nocturnal birds known for their exceptional night vision. They have large eyes with a high number of light-sensitive rod cells, allowing them to see clearly in the dark, which is crucial for hunting at night.
2Garden tool for weedingHOE???✨ See Why
The answer is HOE because it is a common garden tool specifically designed to remove weeds and cultivate soil. Its flat blade makes it ideal for cutting through unwanted plants at the soil level, which aligns perfectly with the clue "Garden tool for weeding."
3Wyle of "The Pitt"NOAH????✨ See Why
The clue refers to actor Noah Wyle, best known for his role in ER. The phrase "The Pitt" hints at "The Pitt" (University of Pittsburgh), suggesting a connection to Wyle's university-set role in "The Librarian" series, reinforcing the answer: NOAH.
4CopsOFFICERS????????✨ See Why
The clue "Cops" directly refers to law enforcement personnel, and the word "officers" is a commonly used term for police or individuals in law enforcement roles. This straightforward connection makes "OFFICERS" the correct answer. It’s a synonym-based clue with no trickery or wordplay involved.
5Activity for a dentist, construction worker or oil prospectorDRILLING????????✨ See Why
The answer "DRILLING" fits because all three professions—dentists, construction workers, and oil prospectors—commonly use drills in their work. Dentists drill teeth, construction workers drill into materials like concrete or wood, and oil prospectors drill into the earth to extract oil. The activity unites these different fields.
6TV host CarsonDALY????✨ See Why
The answer "DALY" refers to Carson Daly, an American TV host known for hosting shows like Total Request Live on MTV and The Voice. The clue "TV host Carson" directly points to his last name, making "DALY" the correct solution.
7___ in the holeACE???✨ See Why
"___ in the hole" refers to a hidden advantage or resource, often revealed at a strategic moment. The phrase originates from card games, where an "ace in the hole" symbolizes a powerful, secret card kept for later use. Hence, the answer is ACE.
8"Of course!"YES???✨ See Why
The clue "Of course!" is in quotes, signaling a conversational or spoken response. "Yes" is a natural, affirmative reply to something obvious or certain, aligning perfectly with "Of course!" as an enthusiastic agreement. A short, intuitive answer fits the casual tone of the clue.
12... Dave & Buster'sPLAY????✨ See Why
Dave & Buster's trades as “PLAY,” emphasizing its core appeal as a place for games, entertainment, and social fun alongside food and drinks.
15Head, in FrenchTETE????✨ See Why
The clue "Head, in French" includes the phrase "in French," signaling the answer is in French. The French word for "head" is "tête," which fits the clue perfectly. In crosswords, diacritical marks like accents (e.g., the circumflex in "tête") are typically omitted, so the answer is TETE.
16Icy weatherHAIL????✨ See Why
The answer "HAIL" fits the clue "Icy weather" because hail consists of small balls or lumps of ice that form during storms. It directly relates to icy conditions caused by solid precipitation, making it a precise match for the description of icy weather in the clue.
17Teardrop-shaped fruitPEAR????✨ See Why
The answer is PEAR because this fruit is known for its distinct teardrop shape. Its wider base narrows toward the stem, resembling the shape described in the clue, making PEAR the correct fit. No wordplay or misdirection is present here—this is a straightforward definition clue.
18Bill of ___SALE????✨ See Why
The phrase "Bill of Sale" is a legal document that serves as proof of a transaction, detailing the sale of goods from one party to another. The clue "Bill of ___" points to this common phrase, making "SALE" the fitting answer.
19... Harley-DavidsonHOG???✨ See Why
The answer "HOG" refers to Harley-Davidson's association with motorcycles. Harley-Davidson uses “HOG,” a well-known nickname for its motorcycles and a term closely tied to its rider community and brand identity.
21... Molson CoorsTAP???✨ See Why
Molson Coors trades under “TAP,” a reference to draft beer poured from a tap, directly connecting to its business as a major brewing company.
Solving today’s NYT Midi Puzzle and stuck on the 9-letter answer to the Things kids may jump into in the fall clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or if this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.
Things kids may jump into in the fall Answer Explained
The answer is LEAFPILES.
In many regions with deciduous trees, autumn brings a heavy fall of leaves as trees shed them to conserve energy for winter. Homeowners often rake these leaves into piles to clear lawns. For kids, these piles become a seasonal source of play—soft, crunchy mounds perfect for jumping into. The clue draws on this familiar fall activity, especially in suburban settings. Beyond play, leaf piles also have practical uses, as collected leaves can be composted or used as mulch, making them both fun and environmentally useful.
Now that you've cracked the 11A Things kids may jump into in the fall clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Midi Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry, we've got you covered. Explore more NYT The Midi crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, NYT The Mini puzzle, Connections, or Strands.
Today’s NYT Midi Highlights
I just finished this one and it was a smooth, satisfying Tuesday solve by Ian Livengood who also did today's The Mini. The theme, “stock” as in stock ticker symbols, clicked for me with WOOF for Petco, which was a fun “aha.” After that, filling in RACE (Ferrari), PLAY (Dave & Buster's), HOG (Harley-Davidson), and TAP (Molson Coors) felt clever but approachable. The rest of the grid was lively too. THEYIPS and DRILLING stood out as fun fills, and shorter entries like OHNO and NEAT kept things moving. Nothing felt too obscure, and the cluing was clean throughout. Overall, a well-balanced puzzle with a neat, consistent theme that made for an enjoyable, midweek solve.
The Midi is a daily crossword puzzle designed to sit between the quick satisfaction of The Mini and the depth of the full Daily Crossword. It offers a compact but more layered solving experience, giving players a new step in the New York Times Games lineup.
While officially launched as a daily puzzle in February 2026, the concept was tested earlier through special puzzle packs and more recently in newsletter editions. Those experiments helped shape what is now a permanent daily feature available exclusively online through the New York Times Games app and website.
Format and Structure
Most Midi puzzles use a 9×9 grid (larger than The Mini but smaller than the traditional crossword), allowing for richer wordplay and themed construction without requiring a long solving session. Toward the end of the week, grids may expand up to 11×11, and occasionally the puzzle appears in non-square formats, with different numbers of rows and columns.
Unlike The Mini, every Midi includes a title, offering a subtle hint at the puzzle’s theme or solving trick. These titles add an extra layer of discovery while keeping the experience approachable.
A Digital-First Puzzle
The Midi is built specifically for digital play. It does not appear in print, and it is available through the New York Times app and website only for subscribers.
Designing the puzzle for screens allows for occasional visual effects and interactive moments that enhance the solving experience in ways print cannot. Even with these innovations, the philosophy remains consistent: puzzles are still handcrafted by human constructors and editors, preserving the editorial voice and thoughtful construction that define New York Times Games.
Editorial Approach
The Midi is edited by Ian Livengood, who also oversees Pips. He creates about three Midi puzzles each week while collaborating with a rotating group of approximately fifteen contributors whose submissions are carefully edited before publication.
This editorial model mirrors the structure used across The New York Times crosswords, where dedicated editors maintain quality and style (like Will Shortz for The Daily and Joel Fagliano for The Mini).
New Rules and Creative Flexibility
The Midi introduces several notable changes to traditional crossword conventions, like:
Each puzzle features a title. Before, only Sunday NYT puzzles had a title. In Midi, this is meant to give a clue about the theme without needing a distinct clue to play the role of a theme revealer.
Grids may occasionally break from square symmetry, which is something also happening in the Mini, especially those made by Sam Ezersky.
Two-letter answers are allowed - this is a feature borrowed from cryptic puzzles, allowing Scrabble (and NYT Crossplay) fans to bank on their skills.
Daily Availability
Puzzles are accessible the evening before the publish date. Weekday and Saturday puzzles: 10 p.m. EST the previous day. Sunday puzzles: 6 p.m. EST on Saturday.