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With 4-Across, another nickname for the Windy City - NYT The Mini Clue

Across

  • The Windy City is a nickname for Chicago. "CHI" is a common shorthand for Chicago, often used in abbreviations like airport codes (ORD/CHI). Along with the 4-Across clue, it forms "CHI-TOWN," another popular nickname for Chicago.

  • Cross-referenced clues work in pairs. On its own, “Town” doesn’t match the Windy City clue, but with 1-Across (“Chi”) it forms “Chi-Town,” a nickname for Chicago.

  • The answer is ORION because Orion is a prominent constellation easily recognized by "Orion's Belt," a straight line formed by three bright stars (Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka) across its middle. This feature makes it iconic and fits the description in the clue perfectly.

  • The clue "Burrito bowl topping" directly hints at a common addition to burrito bowls. SALSA, a flavorful sauce made from tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices, is a staple topping in Mexican cuisine. It complements the dish, making it a logical and fitting answer.

  • The term "slew" is often used informally to mean "a large number" or "a whole bunch" of something. This aligns directly with the clue "Whole bunch (of)," making it an appropriate and concise solution.

Down

  • The clue "Some Silicon Valley execs, for short" refers to Chief Technology Officers (CTOs). These executives oversee technological strategies and innovations in companies, especially in the tech-centric Silicon Valley. "For short" signals the commonly used acronym "CTOs."

  • The answer HORAS refers to the Hora, a traditional dance often performed at Jewish weddings. During this dance, a married couple is lifted in chairs by guests as everyone dances in a circle. This matches the clue's description of dances involving chair-lifting.

  • The clue "You can count on me" is a spoken phrase often used to express reliability or assurance. Its answer, IWILL, reflects this sentiment, as it is a confident declaration of dependability, implying "I will do it" or "I will be there for you."

  • The "nose" of an airplane refers to its front part, typically housing navigation systems, radar, and sometimes the cockpit. This fits the clue "Front part of an airplane" directly and describes the physical structure in aviation terms, making NOSE the correct answer.

  • The clue "Heck ___!" is conversational and informal, indicated by the quotation marks. "Naw" is a colloquial way of saying "No," often used in casual or humorous contexts. Together, "Heck naw!" expresses disbelief or a strong "no," fitting the clue's tone and intent.

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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 3-letter answer to the With 4-Across, another nickname for the Windy City 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.

With 4-Across, another nickname for the Windy City Answer Explained

The answer is CHI.

This is a cross-referenced clue, meaning you need to combine it with another entry to get the full nickname. “With 4-Across” signals the two go together. The “Windy City” is Chicago—a nickname that originally came less from its weather and more from its long-winded politicians and boastful reputation in the late 1800s. In the grid, “CHI” pairs with “TOWN” (4-Across), forming “Chi-Town,” a well-known shorthand for Chicago. Alone, “CHI” doesn’t mean much, but linked with its partner, the clue makes perfect sense.

Now that you've cracked the 1A With 4-Across, another nickname for the Windy City 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 Thursday Mini by Sam Ezersky, the editor of Spelling Bee, brings his trademark bite. Even in a small grid, Sam finds ways to trip you up with layered wordplay. The cross-referenced nickname for the Windy City requires solvers to piece together two answers for the full effect. There’s also a constellation clue that demands some sky knowledge and a Silicon Valley title shortened to initials, testing different solving muscles.

Here’s what caught our attention today:

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.

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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.

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  • 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.
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