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Mugful after a sledding excursion - NYT The Mini Clue
Across
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The clue refers to fictional doctors Dr. Gregory House from the TV show "House" and Dr. Doogie Howser from "Doogie Howser, M.D." The abbreviation "M.D.s" stands for "Medical Doctors," which both characters are. The "for short" signals the abbreviation.
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PORT is the answer because it is a type of fortified wine traditionally enjoyed as a dessert wine due to its sweet flavor. Originating from Portugal, port wine is often served with or after dessert, making it synonymous with the clue.
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The clue refers to a comforting, warm beverage typically enjoyed after chilly activities like sledding. A "mugful" suggests a drink served in a mug, and hot cocoa is a classic choice for warming up in cold weather, making "COCOA" the fitting and logical answer.
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The clue "Desert whine?" features wordplay indicated by the question mark. "Desert" references heat, and "whine" suggests complaining. Combined, "I'm hot" (IMHOT) is a complaint someone might make in a hot desert, cleverly tying the pun to the answer.
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The clue "Like, yesterday!" uses casual speech to imply urgency or immediacy. "ASAP" (short for "As Soon As Possible") captures this urgency perfectly, aligning with the idea of needing something done as if it were already overdue, i.e., "yesterday." Hence, ASAP fits well.
Down
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MOCHA is the solution because it refers to a popular drink combining chocolate and coffee flavors. The term originates from Mocha, Yemen, historically known for its coffee. The clue directly points to this blend of chocolate and coffee, making MOCHA the perfect match.
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The clue "Sag" refers to something bending or drooping downward due to weight, pressure, or lack of support. "DROOP" perfectly captures this definition, as it describes the act of sagging or hanging loosely, aligning directly with the meaning of the clue.
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The answer "STAT" is short for "statistic," which in sports refers to numerical data that tracks performance. A "three-point percentage" is a basketball statistic that measures how many three-point shots a player or team makes relative to attempts, making it an example of a STAT.
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The answer "POMS" is short for Pomeranians, a breed of small, fluffy, toy-sized dogs. The term "poofy" reflects their thick, voluminous coats, and "familiarly" signals the use of an informal nickname often used for them. Hence, "POMS" perfectly fits the clue.
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The CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) is the U.S. government agency where Jack Ryan works in Tom Clancy's novels. As an intelligence expert and field agent, Ryan carries out missions tied to the CIA's operations, making it the correct answer for this organization clue.
Today’s Game Difficulty
Hard
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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Mugful after a sledding excursion 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.
Mugful after a sledding excursion Answer Explained
The answer is COCOA.
This one leans into a cozy winter vibe. A “mugful” signals a warm drink, and “after a sledding excursion” is the perfect setup—it evokes cold cheeks, wet mittens, and the classic reward: hot chocolate. COCOA is the grid-fitting choice. You might briefly think of tea or coffee, but they lack the childhood nostalgia the clue sets up. Plus, the word “sledding” specifically brings kids to mind, and cocoa is the quintessential treat. A very visual clue, you can almost smell the marshmallows. No tricks here, just evocative phrasing that steers you to the right answer if you picture the scene.
Now that you've cracked the 5A Mugful after a sledding excursion 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 Christina Iverson brings a playful mix of wordplay and warm comforts. The standout is a clever homophone pun pairing a “dessert wine” with a “desert whine,” two clues that sound similar but lead in totally different directions. There’s also a cozy drink theme running through the puzzle, with two rich, chocolatey beverages making an appearance. A sweet and satisfying Mini to end the week.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- House and Doogie Howser, for short
- Dessert wine
- Desert whine?
- "Like, yesterday!"
- Sag
- Three-point percentage, e.g.
- Poofy toy dogs, familiarly
- Org. that employs Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy novels
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.
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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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