The answer is EBBS because "subsides" refers to a decrease or receding, and "like the tide" points to the natural ebb and flow of ocean tides. An ebb specifically describes the tide receding or moving away, perfectly aligning with the clue's wording.
5Leggings lead-in to "lemon"LULU????✨ See Why
The answer is LULU because "Lulu" is part of the brand name "Lululemon," a popular activewear company known for its leggings. The clue's "lead-in to 'lemon'" hints at the beginning of this brand name, making "Lulu" the correct solution.
6FROST?????✨ See Why
The answer is FROST because it refers to Robert Frost, a renowned American poet. The clue uses wordplay: his "cool" last name, Frost, relates to cold or icy conditions, aligning with the meaning of "cool." This clever hint connects his name to the clue's description.
8Manhattan neighborhood near the East VillageNOHO????✨ See Why
NOHO is short for "North of Houston Street," a neighborhood in Manhattan. It's located just above Houston Street and near the East Village, fitting the geographical clue perfectly. NOHO is a distinct area known for its artistic vibe and proximity to landmarks like the East Village.
9Quick joyrideSPIN????✨ See Why
The term "quick joyride" suggests a brief, fun drive or ride. "SPIN" fits perfectly as it’s a common expression for taking a short, fast drive—like saying "let’s go for a spin." Additionally, "quick" emphasizes the brief nature of the ride.
Down
1Fairylike figure of folkloreELF???✨ See Why
The clue "Fairylike figure of folklore" refers to a mythical being often found in fairy tales and legends. An ELF is a supernatural creature characterized by its fairylike nature, often depicted as small and magical, fitting this description perfectly.
2BURNS?????✨ See Why
The answer "BURNS" refers to Robert Burns, a famous Scottish poet and lyricist. The phrase "hot" last name is a playful pun, as "burns" suggests heat or fire, aligning with the clue’s wordplay. This clever hint ties to both his name and the "hot" theme.
3Weakly hit fly ballBLOOP?????✨ See Why
The term "BLOOP" in baseball refers to a softly hit, high fly ball that drops into play, often beyond the infield and just out of reach of the defenders. It directly matches the clue “Weakly hit fly ball,” describing both the action and the result in sports terminology.
4Food made using a bamboo mat known as a "makisu"SUSHI?????✨ See Why
The answer is SUSHI because it is a food commonly prepared using a bamboo mat called a "makisu." This mat is traditionally used to roll sushi, particularly varieties like maki rolls, where rice, seaweed, and filling are rolled into a cylindrical shape.
7Quite the heavy weightTON???✨ See Why
The clue "Quite the heavy weight" is a wordplay hint. A "ton" is a measurement of weight equal to 2,000 pounds, making it a very "heavy" weight in literal terms. The phrase emphasizes the extreme heaviness, aligning perfectly with the answer "TON."
Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Weakly hit fly ball 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.
Weakly hit fly ball Answer Explained
The answer is BLOOP.
In baseball, a BLOOP is a softly hit ball that just barely makes it past the infield, often falling between fielders. If you’re not a sports fan, this term might feel obscure, but it’s very common in baseball lingo. “Weakly hit” is a helpful hint, it tells us the hit wasn’t powerful. You might think of “pop” or “tap,” but BLOOP is the exact term for this specific kind of lucky little hit. It’s one of those words that sounds like what it describes, which makes it more memorable.
Now that you've cracked the 3D Weakly hit fly ball 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 Wednesday Mini by Tracy Bennett (editor of Wordle) is a fun, wordplay-forward puzzle with a literary twist. The standout clues are the paired references to “Poet Robert” with “a ‘cool’ last name” and “a ‘hot’ last name”, a clever play on temperature-related surnames that turns basic trivia into a smile-worthy moment. The grid balances pop culture, food, and a bit of NYC geography, making for a well-rounded midweek solve that’s trickier than it first appears.
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.