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Button next to "Select" on old Nintendo controllers - NYT The Mini Clue
Across
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The answer is POPPY because it refers to a type of flower, and "Poppy" is also a term of endearment or nickname for a father, playing on the pun indicated by the clue. The clue cleverly combines both meanings for the solution.
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The clue "Savvy" refers to understanding or being knowledgeable about something. "AWARE" aligns with this definition as it means being informed, perceptive, or conscious of a situation—qualities tied to being savvy. Both words reflect an awareness or comprehension of what's going on.
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The answer is INDIA because Buddhism originated in ancient India around the 5th–4th century BCE. It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, who attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya (modern-day Bihar, India), making it the birthplace of Buddhism.
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The clue uses wordplay, as indicated by the question mark. "Stretches" refers to stretch limousines ("limos"), which are often parked outside parties or events to transport attendees. The pun connects "stretches" (as in long vehicles) with the party setting, making LIMOS the fitting answer.
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The answer is START because old Nintendo controllers, such as those for the NES, featured two central buttons labeled "Select" and "Start." These buttons were commonly used to navigate game menus or begin gameplay. The clue directly references this iconic button placement.
Down
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The clue "Beach buckets" refers to containers commonly used to scoop or carry sand or water at the beach. "Pails" is a synonym for buckets, making it the fitting answer. The plural form matches the clue's plural wording, ensuring consistency in the solution.
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The phrase "Take responsibility for something" aligns with the colloquial expression "OWN IT," meaning to acknowledge and accept accountability for your actions or decisions. It's about confronting and embracing responsibility directly, fitting the clue perfectly.
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The answer is PADMA because Padma Lakshmi is a renowned host of the popular cooking competition show Top Chef. She has been a prominent figure on the show, making her name widely associated with it. The clue directly refers to her first name.
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The clue "Previous" directly defines the answer "PRIOR," as "prior" means occurring earlier in time or order, synonymous with "previous." This is a straightforward definition clue where the answer matches the meaning of the clue.
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YEAST is the correct answer because it is a microorganism that ferments sugars in dough, producing carbon dioxide. This gas gets trapped in the dough, causing it to expand or "rise." It's a key ingredient in bread-making for achieving a light, airy texture.
Today’s Game Difficulty
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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Button next to "Select" on old Nintendo controllers 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.
Button next to "Select" on old Nintendo controllers Answer Explained
The answer is START.
This clue is all about nostalgia. If you’ve ever held an old NES or SNES controller, you probably remember the layout. “Select” and “Start” were two buttons in the middle, usually used to begin a game or navigate menus. So even though this clue is very straightforward, it helps if you’ve had first-hand experience. If not, you might guess something like “enter” or “begin,” but the classic and accurate answer is START. It’s a nice, concrete clue grounded in pop culture, specifically gaming history.
Now that you've cracked the 9A Button next to "Select" on old Nintendo controllers 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
Nice little Monday Mini today from Wyna Liu, the creative mind behind Connections. All the entries are clean, 5-letter words, which gives the grid a neat, balanced feel. Clues cover a fun mix of topics—there’s a nod to flowers, video games, and even baking. Nothing too obscure, but one or two clever wordplay clues keep things lively. A smooth start to the week!
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- Flower that sounds like a parental nickname
- Savvy
- Stretches outside of a party?
- Take responsibility for something
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.
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.