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Car ride game - NYT The Mini Clue

Across

  • The clue "Fancy party" directly points to GALA, which is a term for an extravagant, formal event often involving celebration, glamour, and attendees in elegant attire. The word "fancy" reinforces the idea of sophistication and formality associated with a GALA.

  • The answer "BELOW" refers to the popular discount store chain "Five Below," which sells items priced at $5 or less. The clue sets up recognition of this well-known store brand by providing part of its name, "Five ___," with "BELOW" completing it perfectly.

  • The LGBTQ+ pride flag originally designed by Gilbert Baker featured eight stripes, each with a meaning. The bottom stripe is PURPLE, symbolizing spirit. While some modern versions of the flag have fewer colors, PURPLE remains associated with pride flags, specifically at the bottom in iconic representations.

  • The answer "JAMMIES" is an informal or colloquial term for "pajamas," which are commonly worn as a bedtime outfit. The clue uses "informally" to signal that a casual, shortened form of the word "pajamas" is the correct solution.

  • The clue "Task to 'run'" uses the phrase "run an errand," which means to fulfill a short, specific task or chore, often involving going somewhere quickly (e.g., picking up groceries or dropping something off). The wordplay connects "run" to its common usage with "errand." Hence, the answer is ERRAND.

  • The answer is DIANE because Diane Keaton is the actress who played Nina Banks, the mother, in the movie "Father of the Bride" (1991) and its sequel. The clue directly refers to her by name and role in this well-known film.

  • The answer is ISPY because "I Spy" is a classic game often played during car rides. In this game, one person identifies an object they see and says, "I spy with my little eye something..." while others guess the object, making it a fitting solution for the clue.

Down

  • GERMANY is the solution because it is the birthplace of these innovations: Karl Benz invented the automobile (1885), Felix Hoffmann synthesized aspirin (while working for Bayer), and the modern accordion was developed in Berlin (1822). These groundbreaking inventions trace back to German ingenuity.

  • The term "ALPINE" directly relates to mountains, as it describes things pertaining to high elevations or the Alps—one of the most famous mountain ranges. The clue "Mountain-related" is a straightforward definition, making ALPINE the perfect fit.

  • The answer "LOLED" refers to the slang abbreviation "LOL," meaning "laugh out loud." Adding "-ED" makes it past tense, fitting the clue's "Was audibly amused." The term is colloquial and reflects internet/modern slang, aligning with the hint "slangily" in the clue.

  • The answer "AWES" makes sense because "to awe" someone means to deeply impress or astonish them. The clue "Really impresses" directly aligns with this definition, as being in awe reflects being truly amazed or overwhelmed by something remarkable.

  • The clue "Unfair reputation" suggests a negative judgment or label that isn’t deserved. "BUM" can mean bad or unfair, and "RAP" is slang for a reputation or accusation. Together, "BUM RAP" refers to being unjustly blamed or criticized, aligning perfectly with the clue's meaning.

  • The answer is PARIS because the French capital was officially selected to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. The city won the bid in 2017, marking its third time hosting the Games after 1900 and 1924, making this a historically significant return after a century.

  • The answer is JEDI because, in George Lucas's "Star Wars" universe, Jedi are depicted as warrior-monks who uphold peace and justice. They have spiritual discipline, follow the Force, and protect the galaxy from threats, aligning perfectly with the clue's description.

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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 4-letter answer to the Car ride game clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.

Car ride game Answer Explained

The answer is ISPY.

This one taps into childhood memories. “Car ride game” is a subtle clue, and I Spy is one of the most classic examples, easy to play without any equipment, just your eyes. If the clue had said “classic kids’ game,” it might’ve been even more obvious. Alternatives like “20 Questions” or “Punch Buggy” come to mind but don’t fit the grid length. ISPY works perfectly and is a clever little nod to how people pass the time on long drives.

Now that you've cracked the 10A Car ride game clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Mini Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry—we've got you covered. Explore more NYT Mini crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, Connections, or Strands.

Today’s NYT Mini Highlights

Today's Saturday 7x7 Mini by Joel Fagliano features a clean, symmetrical grid with one sleek answer per line, satisfying for solvers who appreciate visual elegance. The clues touch on topics from shopping and classic games to cultural references, offering a well-balanced mix of difficulty and fun. A smart and tidy weekend solve.

Here’s what caught our attention today:

About NYT The Mini

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.

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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.
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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.
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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 check become blue.

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