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Radio exposure for a song - NYT The Mini Clue
Across
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The clue "Friendly and pleasant" directly defines the word AMIABLE. AMIABLE means having a kind and agreeable nature, which fits the description of someone who is friendly and pleasant to interact with. This definition aligns perfectly with the clue.
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The clue "Irritatingly self-important" directly describes the definition of "POMPOUS." Someone who is pompous acts arrogantly grandiose or overly self-important, often in an annoying way, perfectly matching the clue's phrasing. The tone of "irritatingly" emphasizes the bothersome nature of such behavior.
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The answer "POMPOMS" is fitting because cheerleaders commonly use pom-poms as accessories during performances to enhance visual appeal and spirit. The clue directly describes items associated with cheerleaders, and "POMPOMS" matches both the plural form and context of the clue perfectly.
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The phrase “Barely ___ out a living” refers to managing with difficulty or making just enough to survive. "EKE" means to barely manage or supplement something, often associated with scraping by in tough circumstances. This makes "EKE" the perfect fit for the clue.
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The clue "We haven't decided yet," on schedules suggests something pending or unspecified. TBA stands for "To Be Announced," commonly used on schedules to indicate that details (like a time or event) are undecided or yet to be finalized. This matches the phrasing of the clue perfectly.
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The answer "AIRPLAY" refers to the broadcasting of a song on the radio. "Radio exposure" signifies the playtime a song receives on air, helping it gain audience recognition. The word "air" relates to radio waves, while "play" refers to the playing of the song, making this a direct match.
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The phrase "___ of two evils" refers to the idiom "the lesser of two evils," which means choosing the option that is less bad or harmful when faced with two undesirable choices. "Lesser" perfectly fits the blank, completing the well-known phrase.
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The clue "Pancake mix ingredient" directly references a common ingredient used in pancake batter. Eggs are a key component in pancake recipes, providing structure, moisture, and helping the batter bind together. Since "ingredient" implies a single item, EGG is the correct and concise solution.
Down
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The answer "APPEAL" fits because it directly refers to a legal process where someone challenges a court's ruling by requesting a higher court to review and potentially change the decision. The clue uses the straightforward legal definition of "Challenge to a court ruling."
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The answer is MOOKIE because Mookie Betts is a star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball. He is a renowned "slugger," known for his exceptional hitting skills and contributions to the team, making MOOKIE the correct solution for this clue.
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The verb "IMMERSE" means to deeply involve or engage oneself in an activity or subject, often with full attention or dedication. It also implies "plunging" into something completely, aligning perfectly with the clue's phrasing "Deeply involve oneself (in)." Thus, IMMERSE fits as the solution.
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The clue "Smartphone download" points to something commonly downloaded onto smartphones. Apps (short for applications) are programs or software downloaded to perform specific functions on phones, such as games, tools, or social media. "APP" perfectly fits as it directly refers to such downloads.
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The term "BOOTLEG" refers to an illegal copy or distribution of something, often music, movies, or alcohol during Prohibition. It fits the clue perfectly, as "bootlegging" is the act of producing or selling items unlawfully. The answer directly ties to the meaning of the clue, "Illegal copy."
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LUMBAR refers to the lower part of the spine, specifically the lumbar region, which supports the lower back. "Kind of support" hints at both anatomical support provided by the lumbar spine and external supports, like lumbar cushions, commonly used for back support, making it the perfect fit.
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The clue "English class assignment" straightforwardly hints at a common task given in English classes. Writing an ESSAY is a typical assignment where students express their thoughts or analyze topics. The word matches the clue's context perfectly. No wordplay or puns here—just a direct connection.
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PSG stands for Paris Saint-Germain, a prominent French soccer club. This abbreviated answer reflects PSG's recognition in football. While the Champions League victory in 2025 is fictional, the clue aligns with PSG's elite status and quest for the title, making "PSG" a fitting solution.
Today’s Game Difficulty
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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 7-letter answer to the Radio exposure for a song 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.
Radio exposure for a song Answer Explained
The answer is AIRPLAY.
“With radio exposure for a song,” my first reaction was to think of how songs get played or promoted: airplay, rotation, spin. The phrase “radio exposure” actually points directly to AIRPLAY, but in a Mini you often need crossings to rule out other close fits. I let a few down answers fall, which gave me the A–I–? pattern, and airplay fit both meaning and letter pattern perfectly. Alternatives like rotation are used in the industry but would have different letters and length; AIRPLAY is the standard music-industry term that the clue is signaling.
Now that you've cracked the 12A Radio exposure for a song 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
A larger 7×7 Saturday grid from Sam Ezersky, the editor of Spelling Bee. Sam often leans into heavy wordplay, but this one sits on the easier side for him. You’ll find sports references, music industry terms, bits of French, cooking ingredients, and legal language. At first the mix can feel intimidating, but once a few answers click, the crossings open everything up. Many clues are direct once you parse them correctly, so it’s more about finding an entry point than wrestling with tricky wordplay.
Here’s what caught our attention today:
- Friendly and pleasant
- Irritatingly self-important
- Dodgers slugger Betts
- Illegal copy
- French soccer club that won its first Champions League title in 2025, for short
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.