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Part of an idiom hinted at by 2-/5-Down - NYT The Midi Clue
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The clue "Concealed" directly points to something that was hidden or kept out of sight. The past tense of "hide" is "HID," matching both the definition and tense of the clue. Therefore, HID fits perfectly as the solution to this straightforward synonym-based clue.
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The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus. Helium, a noble gas, has 2 protons, making its atomic number TWO. This is a factual chemistry-based clue, and the numerical answer directly corresponds to helium's placement on the periodic table.
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The clue "___ Dhabi" refers to Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. "Abu" completes the name of the city. This is a straightforward geographical clue where recognizing the region or city name leads to the correct answer, ABU.
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The answer is ORA because Rita Ora is a well-known pop singer and actress. She gained international fame with hit songs like "How We Do (Party)" and "Your Song." The clue directly refers to her by her first name and profession, making ORA the correct surname for the solution.
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The clue refers to Keith Richards, a guitarist for the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger is the lead singer and another founding member of the band. Known for their immense fame and partnership, Jagger is rightly described as Keith Richards' "iconic bandmate." Hence, the answer is MICKJAGGER.
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A "stallion" is an uncastrated adult male horse, commonly kept on stud farms for breeding purposes due to their ability to sire offspring. The term directly ties to the clue, as these farms specialize in breeding horses, making "stallion" the fitting and logical answer.
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The clue "Apt rhyme with 'groan'" directly hints at a word that rhymes with "groan" and shares a similar meaning. "Moan" perfectly fits, as it not only rhymes with "groan" but also describes a similar sound or expression of discomfort or complaint, making it an apt choice.
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The answer is ALBA because Jessica Alba is a well-known actress who starred as Nancy Callahan in the 2005 film "Sin City". The clue directly references her role in this movie, making ALBA the correct solution.
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The word "SLEW" can mean a large number or amount, aligning with the clue. It originates from the Irish word "sluagh," meaning a multitude or crowd. While "slew" may also refer to a sudden movement, its usage here specifically refers to quantity.
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The answer "BAR" fits because a common joke setup begins with "A man walks into a bar...," which often serves as the starting point for humorous anecdotes or punchlines. The clue references this classic format, making "BAR" the perfect solution.
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The answer "ORE" is a pun since hematite and carbonate are types of ores, which geologists study. The phrase "Either ___!" humorously implies the geologist sees both as acceptable options. The playful wordplay hinges on the double meaning of "ore" as both a response and the material in question.
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The clue "Supportive articles on a run, perhaps" uses wordplay and a pun. "Supportive articles" refers to garments providing physical support, and "on a run" hints at exercise. SPORTSBRAS are supportive garments commonly worn during workouts or runs, making it the perfect solution.
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TWOBIRDS is the first half of the idiom "kill two birds with one stone." Instead of naming the birds directly, the clue points to IBIS and WREN elsewhere in the grid, making the phrase come together only after you've solved the downs.
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ONESTONE completes the idiom "kill two birds with one stone." The clue points to MICK JAGGER, whose famous band is The Rolling Stones, providing the "stone" through a playful musical reference rather than a direct definition.
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The abbreviation "PSS" stands for "postscript scriptum," which is used to indicate a second afterthought or additional note after a "PS" (postscript) in written communication. The clue specifies "Afterthoughts in some letters," leading to the pluralized use of PSS.
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"SOS" is the international distress signal used at sea, signifying a "cry for help." It's simple, universally recognized, and reflects the maritime theme in the clue ("at sea"). The clue's phrasing directly points to this emergency call.
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HAM is the solution because it is a type of meat commonly served during holidays, known for being basted or glazed with ingredients like honey, brown sugar, or spices to enhance its flavor. The "oft-glazed" clue highlights this traditional preparation method for festive celebrations.
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The IBIS is a tall, slender bird known for wading in shallow waters, searching for food with its long legs and downward-curving beak. The clue “avian wader” points to a bird that frequents wetlands, and "tall" reinforces its long-legged stature, making IBIS the fitting answer.
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The clue "___ tape" refers to a common, strong adhesive product known as duct tape. The answer "DUCT" fits because duct tape is specifically named for its original purpose of sealing air ducts, making "DUCT" the logical and accurate solution.
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The answer "TOGO" fits the clue "Like a takeout order" because takeout meals are typically prepared for customers to take with them and eat elsewhere, or "to go." It literally describes the function of a takeout order—meant to be taken away.
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The clue "Small avian singer" refers to a small bird known for its melodic songs. A "wren" is a tiny, vocal bird, fitting both the "small" and "singer" aspects of the clue. This solves the clue perfectly.
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The answer is "OAR" because it's a pun. Rowers use oars, typically made of wood or carbon fiber. When asked "Either ___!," their playful response is "OAR," as it sounds like "or," cleverly alluding to their preference for either material.
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The answer "KAMA" refers to the "Kama Sutra," an ancient Indian Sanskrit text on human sexuality, love, and relationships. The blank in "___ Sutra" is filled with "KAMA" to complete the well-known title. The clue directly points to this famous cultural and historical work.
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The nickname "Jenny From the Block" refers to Jennifer Lopez, a singer, actress, and dancer famous for her song of the same name. "JLO" is her widely recognized nickname, derived from her initials, making it the correct answer for the clue.
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The phrase "___ carte" is commonly completed as "à la carte," which refers to ordering individual items from a menu rather than a set meal. "À la" is French for "according to the menu," and in crosswords, it's regularly shortened to just "ALA."
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The answer is GINS because the Negroni cocktail is traditionally made with three main ingredients: gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. "Spirits" here refers to alcoholic beverages, and gin is the specific spirit used in this classic drink, aptly fitting the plural clue.
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The clue "Crunch targets" refers to a specific exercise - crunches - which are designed to target and strengthen the abdominal muscles. Commonly shortened to "abs," these muscles are directly associated with this type of workout, making ABS the fitting answer.
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The answer is LAPTOP because a laptop is a portable computer designed to be compact and lightweight, making it ideal for fitting in a backpack. The clue explicitly describes its portability and function, perfectly aligning with the characteristics of a laptop.
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The Cleveland Browns are the professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The clue directly refers to the team by its city and sport, making BROWNS the straightforward answer. Named after their first coach, Paul Brown, they are part of the National Football League (NFL).
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The clue is in quotes, indicating a spoken phrase. "Oh God" suggests an exclamation involving a divine reference. "This can't be ..." expresses strong denial or disbelief. Combined, "LORD, NO!" is a matching phrase expressing shock or incredulity, aligning perfectly with the tone of the clue.
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The phrase "Rubs out" directly refers to the action of removing or eliminating something, such as a smudge mark. The verb "erases" perfectly matches this description, as erasing involves rubbing to remove marks from a surface, like pencil marks or smudges. Thus, ERASES fits the clue.
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The solution "WES" refers to Wes Craven, a renowned film director known for his influential work in the horror genre. He directed iconic films like A Nightmare on Elm Street and the Scream series. "Director Craven" is a direct reference to his first name, Wes.
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The clue "Fish egg delicacies" refers to roe, which is a term for fish eggs often considered a culinary delicacy. The plural "delicacies" leads to the plural form "ROES," making it the fitting answer.
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The answer is TBS because "American Dad!" moved to the TBS network in 2014 after originally airing on Fox. TBS is a well-known cable channel recognized for its comedy programming, making it a fitting home for the animated sitcom.
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The clue refers to a well-trained dog's behavior when instructed. Dogs are often taught to "sit" as a basic command, especially when a reward like a treat is involved. "Sit" is both a simple, logical action and aligns with the given clue.
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The clue "Dudes" refers to an informal way to address or describe men, often used casually among friends. "BROS" is a common slang term for "brothers" or close male friends, making it a synonymous and fitting answer for "Dudes."
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Solving today’s NYT Midi Puzzle and stuck on the 8-letter answer to the Part of an idiom hinted at by 2-/5-Down 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.
Part of an idiom hinted at by 2-/5-Down Answer Explained
The answer is TWOBIRDS.
At first glance, TWOBIRDS seems incomplete, but the clue nudges you toward 2-Down and 5-Down, where you'll find IBIS and WREN. Those are the puzzle's literal "two birds," cleverly replacing the generic birds from the familiar idiom "kill two birds with one stone." The missing verb isn't written anywhere in the grid either, it comes from the title, Taking Care of Business, where "taking care of" serves as a classic gangster euphemism for "killing." It's a multi-layered construction that asks you to connect the title, the themed entries, and the referenced down answers before the entire phrase finally clicks.
Now that you've cracked the 30A Part of an idiom hinted at by 2-/5-Down 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
Kareem Ayas's Taking Care of Business hides an impressively layered theme behind what first looks like a pair of ordinary entries. TWOBIRDS and ONESTONE immediately suggest the familiar idiom "kill two birds with one stone," but the puzzle never actually spells out the missing verb. Instead, the title supplies it indirectly. "Taking care of" is a classic mob-movie euphemism for killing, turning the title itself into the missing piece of the phrase. The cleverness doesn't stop there. The clues for the theme entries point you to IBIS and WREN, the puzzle's two actual bird entries, so the "two birds" are literal answers elsewhere in the grid rather than just words in an expression. It's the kind of construction that's easy to overlook on a first pass because every entry is perfectly legitimate on its own. Only after solving both acrosses and downs does the full picture click into place, making for a satisfying "aha!" that rewards careful observation rather than announcing itself immediately.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
About The Midi
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.