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In a chilly manner - NYT The Mini Clue

Across

  • The answer is DIMES because a U.S. dime has a standard thickness of approximately 1.35 millimeters, or about 1/20th of an inch, making it among the thinnest coins in U.S. currency. This directly aligns with the clue’s description of the thinnest U.S. coins.

  • The clue "Sorry, already have plans" is in quotes, signaling a conversational phrase as the answer. "I CAN'T" is a direct, colloquial response someone might say when they decline an invitation due to prior commitments, making it the perfect fit.

  • The clue "Silent but deadly sort?" uses wordplay, hinting at someone known for stealth and lethal skills. A "ninja" fits perfectly, as they are historically known for their quiet, covert movements and deadly martial arts abilities, embodying both "silent" and "deadly" traits in the clue.

  • The answer is ELIOT because "George Eliot" was the male pen name adopted by Mary Ann Evans, a prominent Victorian writer. She chose this pseudonym to ensure her works were taken seriously in a male-dominated literary world. Her famous novels include Middlemarch and Silas Marner.

  • The clue "That's great news!" is in quotes, indicating a spoken reaction. "YAY" is an enthusiastic exclamation often used to express joy or excitement in response to good news, perfectly matching the tone and intent of the clue.

Down

  • The clue "Wine pairing?" features a question mark, signaling wordplay. Here, "pairing" suggests something that goes with wine. Wine and dining are commonly linked (as in "wine and dine"), making "DINE" a fitting answer. It plays on the pairing of wine with a meal.

  • The clue "In a chilly manner" describes an action or behavior that is cold, distant, or unfriendly. The adverb "ICILY" perfectly captures this tone, as it means doing something in a cold, frosty, or emotionally distant way, aligning exactly with the clue's meaning.

  • The suffix "mania" refers to an obsessive enthusiasm or excessive behavior, making it a fitting ending for "kleptomania" (obsession with stealing) and "egomania" (obsession with oneself). This aligns with the clue’s structure, linking it as the shared ending for both words.

  • The clue, in quotes, signals a spoken phrase. "Hope you like the food!" is a common waiter expression when serving guests. "ENJOY" is the concise response that encapsulates this sentiment, as it's often said by waitstaff to encourage diners to relish their meal.

  • The answer is STAT because "batting average" is a type of statistic (abbreviated to "stat") in sports, specifically baseball. It measures a player's performance by calculating the proportion of successful hits to at-bats. The "e.g." in the clue hints that the answer is a category or example.

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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the In a chilly manner 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.

In a chilly manner Answer Explained

The answer is ICILY.

This one’s a tone clue, it’s about how something is done. “In a chilly manner” might make you think literally about temperature—like walking outside in winter. But again, crosswords often use “chilly” to mean emotionally cold. So ICILY doesn’t just describe the weather; it can describe a tone of voice, a stare, or a reply. You might briefly think of “coldly” or “coolly,” which are close, but “coldly” is six letters, and “coolly” doesn’t quite capture the same frosty edge. ICILY hits that perfect blend of cold and cutting. Once you shift from physical to emotional cold, it clicks.

Now that you've cracked the 2D In a chilly manner 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

This Monday puzzle by Christina Iverson is a smooth and fun start to the week. It mixes topics like coins (“Thinnest U.S. coins”), Victorian literature (“George ___”), and superheroes (“Silent but deadly sort”) with playful clues like “Wine pairing?” for a nice bit of wordplay. Easy but not boring!

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.

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