NYT’s The Midi Crossword Answers and Hints

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is a critical life-saving skill performed by Emergency Medical Technicians (E.M.T.s). It involves chest compressions and rescue breaths to restore circulation and breathing in emergencies. Manikins are widely used for CPR training to simulate realistic practice scenarios, making “CPR” the logical answer to the clue.

The answer "OLE" fits because it's a common Spanish exclamation of excitement or approval, often shouted during bullfights to cheer on the matador's skillful moves. The clue refers to a specific context (bullfighting) where this Spanish cheer is traditionally used.

The clue references the saying "a cat always lands on its feet." With the related 17-Down ("its feet"), the full answer becomes "lands on its feet," describing what the "falling feline" does, tying to the cat's famed agility. It's a wordplay-based clue!

The prefix "ANTI-" means "against" or "opposed to." When combined with "social," it forms "antisocial," meaning against social interaction. Similarly, "anticlimactic" combines "ANTI-" with "climactic," indicating something that goes against or diminishes a climax. Thus, "ANTI" fits the clue perfectly.

The clue "Tic--toe" refers to the classic children's game, "Tic-Tac-Toe." The blank in "Tic--toe" is filled by "TAC," completing the name. This straightforward fill-in-the-blank style clue directly leads to "TAC" as the correct and logical answer.

IPA stands for India Pale Ale, a popular style of craft beer known for its strong hop flavor, making it a "hoppy" brew. The clue specifies "for short," indicating an abbreviation, which is why the three-letter shorthand "IPA" fits perfectly.

The abbreviation "m.p.h." stands for "miles per hour." The "p" in this context represents "per," which indicates a rate or ratio. Therefore, the answer is "PER," as it directly corresponds to the meaning of the letter "p" in the abbreviation.

The clue "Bulletin board fastener" directly describes a small item used to affix notices or papers to a bulletin board. A "TACK" is a commonly used sharp, short nail-like fastener that fits this purpose perfectly, making it the correct solution for this clue.

The clue specifies a "male name hidden in 'valentine'." The word "hidden" signals to look for a name within the letters of "valentine." If you scan the word, you'll find the male name "LEN" appears sequentially within "valentine." Hence, LEN is the correct answer.

The clue "If you ask me ...," in texts refers to how people express their personal opinion in shorthand while texting. IMO stands for "In My Opinion," a common abbreviation used in digital communication to convey exactly that sentiment. Hence, it's the perfect fit for this clue!

The phrase "___ all practical purposes" is often completed as "FOR all practical purposes," meaning effectively or essentially. The word "FOR" fits both the grammatical structure and commonly used expression, completing the context perfectly. It's a straightforward fill-in-the-blank clue.

To solve "See 3-Down," you must first check 3-Down's clue. If 3-Down refers to something like "What a centipede has a lot of" or a related phrase, the answer "ITS FEET" makes sense as centipedes are known for having many feet. The two clues work together logically.

In volleyball, a "set" is a fundamental part of a match. Matches are divided into sets, where teams compete to win a specific number (e.g., best of five). Additionally, "set" refers to the action of setting up the ball for a spike, fitting the clue's context perfectly.

The answer "HAY" fits because it is a common type of food that horses eat. Hay is dried grass or legumes often used as animal feed, making it a straightforward and accurate solution to the clue "Food for a horse."

The clue "Have a debt" directly defines the answer "OWE" because to owe someone means to be obligated to repay or settle a debt. "Have a debt" succinctly conveys this obligation, making "OWE" the exact fitting term.

The answer "TACT" fits "Diplomatic use of words" perfectly because tact refers to sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and discretion in communication—qualities essential for diplomacy. It's the skill of choosing words carefully to avoid offense or maintain harmony, aligning with the idea of a diplomatic approach in conversations.

The iris is the colored part of the eye that surrounds the pupil. It controls the amount of light entering the eye by adjusting the pupil size, making it the correct answer to the clue "Eye part around the pupil." This is a direct and factual description of eye anatomy.

The clue features a quote attributed to A.A. Milne, known for his Winnie-the-Pooh stories, which often capture simple joys and lighthearted moments. The blank logically completes the sentiment, reflecting enjoyment during memorable times. "FUN" perfectly fills the blank, representing the carefree happiness described in the quote.

The clue references "Tempe sch." (school), a hint for Arizona State University (ASU), which is located in Tempe. The twist: 33-Across must be solved first. If 33-Across spells "USA," its reverse is "ASU," perfectly fitting the clue's wordplay.

The clue "Falling star?" includes a question mark, signaling wordplay. A "falling star" can refer to someone losing fame or grandeur. The playful twist here is that a CAT always "lands on its feet," even when "falling," making it a humorous match for the clue.

The clue "Devoured" directly relates to the act of eating something eagerly or completely. "ATE" is the past tense of "eat," fitting the context of devouring. It's a concise match to the clue, with no wordplay or additional layers to interpret.

The answer is MOW because "trim the lawn" refers to cutting grass, which is typically done by mowing. "Mow" is the verb used to describe the action of maintaining a lawn's appearance by cutting the grass to a uniform height.