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NYT’s The Mini Crossword Answers and Hints
Across
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The phrase "Work like a dog" is a common English idiom that means to work very hard or tirelessly. The clue uses this expression, omitting “dog” to prompt the solver to complete the phrase. Thus, DOG is the correct and logical answer.
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The phrase "Work like a charm" is a common idiom meaning something works perfectly or effortlessly, aligning with the clue’s wordplay. The blank invites completion with "charm," completing the familiar saying. The pun-like clue structure makes this a fitting and intuitive answer.
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The answer is MEZZO because it refers to "mezzo-soprano," a voice type that lies between soprano (higher) and alto (lower) in range. The clue says "informally," signaling the shortened form "mezzo," commonly used to describe this vocal range.
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The answer "OREOS" fits the clue "Black-and-white snacks" because Oreo cookies are well-known treats featuring a black (chocolate) outer cookie and white (cream) filling. The clue describes their distinctive color contrast directly, making "OREOS" the ideal solution.
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The answer "NOD" fits because it describes the physical action of moving one's head up and down to signal agreement or affirmation. The clue directly relates to this nonverbal gesture, making "NOD" the correct and straightforward solution.
Down
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The clue "Totally out of it" describes a state of being confused, disoriented, or unable to focus, which matches the definition of DAZED. When someone is "dazed," they are often mentally distant or unfocused, aligning perfectly with the clue's meaning.
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The answer is ORZO because it is a type of pasta that is small and shaped like grains of rice. The clue directly describes its physical resemblance to rice, making ORZO the precise fit. It’s commonly used in soups, salads, or as a side dish.
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The clue "Engineered crops, for short" refers to genetically modified organisms, commonly abbreviated as GMOs. These are crops that have been altered using genetic engineering techniques to improve traits like resistance to pests or enhanced nutritional content. The "for short" indicates the use of an abbreviation, making GMOS the correct answer.
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The clue "You can't be serious!" is in quotes, indicating a spoken phrase or exclamation. "CMON" (short for "Come on") is a casual, commonly used expression of disbelief or frustration, conveying the same meaning as the clue. It matches the tone and intent perfectly!
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The clue "Villain's counterpart" directly contrasts two archetypes: the villain and the hero. A villain represents evil or antagonism, while a hero symbolizes good or protagonist qualities. As "counterpart" implies opposition or corresponding roles, the correct answer is HERO, the opposite figure to a villain in stories.
Today’s Game Difficulty
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Hit a roadblock solving today's NYT The Mini? Lady Puzzle is happy to lend a hand. Click her for hints, reveal the entire puzzle, uncover squares one by one, or explore clue answers. Whatever solving style you prefer, this is your go-to tool for finishing NYT's The Mini Crossword!
Today’s NYT Mini Highlights
Today’s Tuesday Mini by Tracy Bennett, editor of Wordle, had a nice mix of general knowledge and fun wordplay. The standout feature was the double clue: “Work like a ___”, which appeared twice but led to two very different answers. Other topics included music terms, food, hero-villain tropes, and a couple of classic idioms. Solid early-week puzzle with just enough crunch to keep it interesting!
Today's Tricky Wordplay
Here's what caught our attention today:
What is NYT The Mini Crossword?
NYT The Mini Crossword is a compact version of the New York Times Crossword puzzle. Usually 5 x 5, with larger grids on Saturdays, it offers mid-week equivalent difficulty clues with no progression over the week. It is accessible to anyone with or without a New York Times account. You can play it on nytimes.com/crosswords, The New York Times Games app (iOS and Android), and the Play tab of the New York Times News app. Games and All Access Subscribers can solve past Mini Crossword puzzles in the archive.
For years, the Mini was free to play daily without a subscription. However, starting August 27, 2025, it became subscriber-only. This change has frustrated many fans, especially as the Mini had grown more ambitious, incorporating themes, wordplay tricks, linked clues, and even echoing entries from the Daily Crossword. In hindsight, these evolutions may have been the Times’ way of positioning the Mini closer to its flagship puzzle.
Here on our page, access is still free, and we also feature the most complete Mini archive and solving resources available anywhere.
We also offer a fresh daily game, Word of Fortune, inspired by Mini-style clues and blending features from other favorites: players must guess a single word from a clue, with the option to spin a wheel for letter hints.
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.
Today's NYT Puzzle Guides by LadyPuzzle Pro
- Today's Wordle
- Connections Hint Today
- NYT Pips Today - Hints & Solutions
- NYT Crossword Answers Today
- Strands Answers Today
- Spelling Bee Hints
- Connections Sports Edition (The Athletic)
How to Play - Features and Tips
Fill white squares with letters to form intersecting words or phrases by solving clues in Across and Down columns. Read our guide to NYT Mini Mastery to learn how to read the different types of clues. Successfully completed puzzle triggers music and a congratulatory message.
Keyboard Shortcuts
- Arrow keys: Change direction within the same square, move in the direction of the arrow, jump back to the first blank in the word, or jump to the next clue.
- Spacebar: Clear the current square, advance, or toggle between Across and Down.
- Backspace (Delete on Macs): Remove words or a letter from a word.
- Tab key: Jump to the next clue.
- Shift + Tab keys: Jump to the previous clue.
- Escape: Enter Rebus mode.
- Pen and Pencil Modes. Switch between pen and pencil modes by selecting the respective icon. Letters in pen mode are black; in pencil mode, gray.
Letter Colors
Black: Default pen mode entries.
Gray: Pencil mode entries.
Blue: Confirmed letters with Check.
Mini Timer
Time your solving with the timer displayed above the puzzle. Pause/resume using the respective buttons. The timer restarts if the entire puzzle is cleared. Option to hide the timer in Puzzle settings.
In-game Help
- Reveal: Unveil correct letters for a square, answer, or the entire puzzle.
- Check: Verify correctness.
The answers you get using help are marked with a red triangle in the upper right-hand corner of the box while those confirmed with a check become blue.
Leaderboards
It’s an additional social resource provided by NYT. You can add friends (up to 100 invitees) to track daily completion and compete.