The clue "Do some legwork?" with a question mark signals wordplay. "Legwork" hints at using legs, and the pun here refers to the physical exercise "SQUAT," which involves significant leg effort. The question mark adds a playful twist, connecting the clue to the workout movement.
6Deep, narrow valleyGULCH?????✨ See Why
The term "gulch" refers to a deep, narrow valley typically formed by erosion, often with steep sides and associated with dry or rocky regions. It directly matches the clue’s description of "Deep, narrow valley," making it the apt choice for the answer.
7Worn and shabbyTATTY?????✨ See Why
The answer TATTY fits the clue "Worn and shabby" as it directly means something in poor condition, frayed, or unkempt. It commonly describes items like clothing or furniture that appear overused or dilapidated, aligning perfectly with "worn and shabby."
8Word below "To" on a gift cardFROM????✨ See Why
The word "FROM" appears below "To" on gift cards to indicate the sender. It follows the format "To [recipient], From [sender]," specifying who the gift is for and who sent it. Hence, "FROM" is the fitting answer to this clue.
9$2.90, for a N.Y.C. subway rideFARE????✨ See Why
The clue "$2.90, for a N.Y.C. subway ride" refers to the cost of riding the subway, which is called the "fare." "Fare" is the standard term for the price paid to travel on public transportation, making it the correct answer.
Down
1
"___ Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"
SGT???✨ See Why
The answer "SGT" refers to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," the iconic 1967 album by The Beatles. "SGT" is short for "Sergeant," as in "Sergeant Pepper," the fictional character central to the album's theme. The clue directly points to this famous cultural reference.
2Fancy word for "beverage"QUAFF?????✨ See Why
The solution "QUAFF" fits because it's a more refined or "fancy" term for drinking a beverage, often used to describe enjoying a drink in an elegant or hearty way. The clue's phrasing suggests a sophisticated synonym, aligning perfectly with "quaff."
3Prefix with marathon for a race over 26.2 milesULTRA?????✨ See Why
The answer is ULTRA because an "ultramarathon" refers to any race longer than the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles. Prefixing "marathon" with "ultra" conveys this extended extreme, fitting the clue perfectly.
4Line memorizerACTOR?????✨ See Why
An "Actor" memorizes lines as part of their role in performances, such as plays, movies, or TV shows. The clue refers to this responsibility, making "Actor" the apt answer for someone who commits lines from scripts to memory.
5Herb often paired with rosemaryTHYME?????✨ See Why
THYME is the answer because it is a common culinary herb that is often used alongside rosemary in recipes, particularly for seasoning meats, vegetables, and sauces. Both herbs have complementary earthy and aromatic flavors, making them a classic pairing in cooking.
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Fancy word for "beverage" 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.
Fancy word for "beverage" Answer Explained
The answer is QUAFF.
The clue tells me I’m looking for a more sophisticated or literary synonym for “beverage.” At first, I think of “libation” or “drink,” but those either don’t fit the grid or aren’t quite “fancy” in the right way. QUAFF* stands out—it’s a word you might read in historical novels or used humorously to describe someone drinking deeply and heartily, often alcohol. It's not just a drink, it’s the act of drinking with gusto. That makes it both a beverage reference and a great vocabulary word.
Now that you've cracked the 2D Fancy word for "beverage" 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 Friday Mini by Sam Ezersky (the editor of Spelling Bee) is short and lively, with a nice mix of topics, from fitness and food to music, geography, and even some old-fashioned vocabulary. A couple of clues have clever wording, and there’s at least one that might stump you if you’re not up on your British slang or topography terms. A fun, well-rounded start to the weekend.
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.
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.
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 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.