A tourist's brochure often includes a map to help visitors navigate unfamiliar places, locate attractions, and plan their routes. It's a "common inclusion" because it’s a practical and essential tool for travelers exploring a destination.
4Olympic honorMEDAL?????✨ See Why
The answer "MEDAL" fits "Olympic honor" because medals (gold, silver, bronze) are the awards given to top-performing athletes in the Olympics, symbolizing their achievement and honor in their events. The clue directly relates to this universal recognition tied to the Olympic Games.
6Any of a set of green plastic toys in "Toy Story"SOLDIER???????✨ See Why
In "Toy Story," the green plastic toys are Army men, modeled as soldiers. They are small, green, and play crucial roles in the movies. The clue directly refers to them, making "SOLDIER" the correct answer.
8Still on the looseATLARGE???????✨ See Why
The phrase "Still on the loose" refers to someone who has not been captured or confined, typically in the context of a fugitive or escaped individual. "ATLARGE" is a term that means free, not in custody, which perfectly aligns with the clue's meaning.
9Driver's license or passportPHOTOID???????✨ See Why
The clue "Driver's license or passport" refers to identification documents that typically include a photograph for verification. "PHOTOID" perfectly fits as both a driver's license and a passport are official photo identification forms used to confirm a person's identity.
10Star of the Eras TourSWIFT?????✨ See Why
The "Eras Tour" refers to Taylor Swift's record-breaking concert tour celebrating her music career, spanning multiple "eras." As the star of this tour, the answer is SWIFT, referencing Taylor Swift. The clue plays on her last name and fame, linking her directly to the tour's title.
11
30, 45 or 50, on a beach bottle: Abbr.
SPF???✨ See Why
The clue refers to numbers (30, 45, or 50) commonly seen on sunscreen bottles. SPF stands for "Sun Protection Factor," which measures the level of protection against UV rays. The abbreviation "Abbr." in the clue signals that the answer is shortened. Thus, SPF is the correct solution.
Down
1
Chills (out)
MELLOWS???????✨ See Why
The phrase "Chills (out)" indicates relaxation or becoming calmer. "MELLOWS" means to become softer, more relaxed, or less intense, perfectly matching the idea of "chilling out." The optional "(out)" emphasizes the informal tone, aligning with the colloquial meaning of "mellows."
2Prompt after swiping one's card at an iPad cash registerADDATIP???????✨ See Why
The clue describes a common action at an iPad cash register after swiping a card. Customers are often prompted to tip, with options displayed on the screen. "ADD A TIP" matches this scenario as the prompt directly asks shoppers to consider adding a gratuity.
3
Form groups of two
PAIROFF???????✨ See Why
The clue "Form groups of two" directly suggests the action of pairing individuals or items together. "Pair off" is a common phrase meaning to team up or match into pairs, which fits perfectly as the solution. The answer aligns literally with the definition provided in the clue.
4Flittering fliers around a flameMOTHS?????✨ See Why
MOTHS is the answer because moths are nocturnal insects famously attracted to light sources like flames, often flying erratically or "flittering" around them. The clue directly describes their behavior, making MOTHS the fitting solution.
5Totally authenticLEGIT?????✨ See Why
The solution "LEGIT" is short for "legitimate," meaning genuine, real, or authentic. The clue "Totally authentic" directly aligns with this meaning, as something "totally authentic" is unquestionably genuine or legitimate — perfectly matching the informal, concise term "LEGIT."
6
Sticky stuff
SAP???✨ See Why
The answer "SAP" fits "Sticky stuff" because sap is a fluid found in plants and trees, like maple trees, which is sticky in texture. It's commonly associated with substances like maple syrup or resin, linking directly to the clue's description.
7
"No turn on ___" (road sign)
RED???✨ See Why
The answer is RED because many road signs state "No turn on red," indicating drivers cannot make a right turn at a red traffic light. "Red" here refers to the color of the traffic signal, making RED the fitting solution to this common road rule.
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 7-letter answer to the Still on the loose 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.
Still on the loose Answer Explained
The answer is ATLARGE.
This is a slightly idiomatic clue. “Still on the loose” sounds like we’re dealing with someone (or something) that’s escaped or hasn’t been caught yet. That leads me to words like “free,” “gone,” or “missing,” but those don’t quite match. ATLARGE is a legal and media phrase often used when a suspect hasn’t been captured. Once I recognize the phrase, it clicks, but if you're unfamiliar with crime reporting language, it might feel opaque. Definitely one of the trickier ones here due to the idiomatic expression.
Now that you've cracked the 8A Still on the loose 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 Saturday 7×7 by Sam Ezersky, editor of Spelling Bee, is smoother than his usual tricky style. With themes touching on travel, pop culture, beach essentials, and tech moments, it’s varied but totally approachable. A fun, breezy solve from a constructor known for keeping us on our toes.
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.
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