I have returned, Crosswordlers! After a couple weeks out of the rotation, I’m back to assist you in your daily Mini Crossword for the week. It’s a lovely weekend in August and I’m ready to solve the week’s biggest (mini) crossword, if you are.
If you’re looking to end your fun in the sun with some good TV shows or movies, be sure to check out my weekend streaming guide with all the best current streaming options and theatrical releases. Let me know what you’re watching, too! I’m always looking for recommendations.
Looking for yesterday’s NYT Mini Crossword? Check out our hints and answers right here.
The NYT Mini is a smaller, quicker, more digestible, bite-sized version of the larger and more challenging NYT Crossword, and unlike its larger sibling, it’s free-to-play without a subscription to The New York Times. You can play it on the web or the app, though you’ll need the app to tackle the archive.
Spoilers ahead!
How To Solve Today’s Mini Crossword
Clues
Since the Saturday Mini is so much bigger and tougher than any of the rest of the week, I’m including some clues for each of these rather than just the first letter, though you can see first letters below, followed by answers.
Across
1A. Something to check before a flight – Think of something you’re carrying.
4A. One road to recovery – If you need to get clean, go here.
6A. “The Good Samaritan” or “The Rich Fool” – Another word for “allegory”
8A. “___ now or never!” – A very short conjunction, minus the apostrophe.
9A. Angora cat’s splendor – Animals have this on their exterior.
10A. North American frogs that sing in a shrill chorus – Rhymes with jeepers.
12A. Sheath or muumuu – Women’s attire.
13A. Kit ___ Club (“Cabaret” setting) – Candy bar.
Down
1D. Wildly out of control – Also a type of missile.
2D. “I’ve got it!” – A tiny palindrome
3D. Scintillating gossip sesh – You will want to go if you have the gift of G_ _.
4D. Gave three stars, say – Like reviewed.
5D. Becomes hazy, as a picture – Most photo-editing software allows you to do this.
6D. Dot on a domino – Another tiny palindrome.
7D. Sounds of indecision – Very close to the letters in our federal tax agency.
11D. Tiny source of torment for a storybook princess – Green sphere.
Before we get to the answers, here’s the first letter for each word in today’s Mini.
Across
1A. Something to check before a flight – B
4A. One road to recovery – R
6A. “The Good Samaritan” or “The Rich Fool” – P
8A. “___ now or never!” – I
9A. Angora cat’s splendor – F
10A. North American frogs that sing in a shrill chorus – P
12A. Sheath or muumuu – D
13A. Kit ___ Club (“Cabaret” setting) – K
Down
1D. Wildly out of control – B
2D. “I’ve got it!” – A
3D. Scintillating gossip sesh – G
4D. Gave three stars, say – R
5D. Becomes hazy, as a picture – F
6D. Dot on a domino – P
7D. Sounds of indecision – U
11D. Tiny source of torment for a storybook princess – P
Okay, onto the answers! Remember, spoilers ahead!
Across
1A. Something to check before a flight – BAG
4A. One road to recovery – REHAB
6A. “The Good Samaritan” or “The Rich Fool” – PARABLE
8A. “___ now or never!” – ITS
9A. Angora cat’s splendor – FUR
10A. North American frogs that sing in a shrill chorus – PEEPERS
12A. Sheath or muumuu – DRESS
13A. Kit ___ Club (“Cabaret” setting) – KAT
Down
1D. Wildly out of control – BALLISTIC
2D. “I’ve got it!” – AHA
3D. Scintillating gossip sesh – GABFEST
4D. Gave three stars, say – RATED
5D. Becomes hazy, as a picture – FOGS
6D. Dot on a domino – PIP
7D. Sounds of indecision – UMS
11D. Tiny source of torment for a storybook princess – PEA
This was a rather tough Mini Crossword, with lots of clues I couldn’t puzzle out right away. I had to fill in a few and then take some wild guesses. Some of these, like Angora cat’s splendor I really didn’t know, but once I had ERS and BLURS filled in, FUR became obvious. Some like ITS and AHA and KAT were super easy, but only gave me a tiny advantage because they were very short and left many letters open. I think the only long word I got right away was PARABLE. I had to guess at DRESS. In any case, this took me 2:17 and that was with very few technical difficulties like plugging in a DOWN word in an ACROSS by mistake.
How did you do? Let me know on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
If you also play Wordle, I write guides about that as well. You can find those and all my TV guides, reviews and much more here on my blog. Thanks for reading!
