Today’s Mini Crossword struck a nice balance of quick hits and “wait, what?” moments. A couple of the top-of-the-grid entries (especially those that key off common pre- and post-words) can feel stubborn at first, but the puzzle clicks once you notice the repeating logic. If you want a smooth finish, keep an eye on the kinds of phrasing that show up again and again.
Hints
Several clues are built around familiar word pairs. For the Across side, think in terms of a small thing that comes before “time” or “potatoes,” then look for a backyard term that naturally pairs with a grill. The “Moving right ___” entry is a common directional filler, and the one that’s “Major or general” points to a ranking word.
The remaining Across clue is also a classic: “Sprouting part of a potato” is a body-part answer that crops up in other puzzles as well.
For the Down clues, start by pairing a word with “time” or “ribs.” Then consider the Kuala Lumpur language clue—think Southeast Asia and the name that’s commonly used for that language. “Make amends” is straightforwardly synonymous with atoning.
Next, “Sausage segment” is a bit of wordplay: it’s the link-like unit you’d see in a typical phrase about sausages. Finally, the “Fuel for a firepit” entry is a familiar item that’s often stacked for burning.
If you’re working on Connections alongside today’s Mini, the same habit helps: look for pattern-friendly phrasing and common pairings, then let those patterns anchor the rest of the grid.
Answers
Mini Across
1A: SMALL
6A: PATIO
7A: ALONG
8A: RANK
9A: EYE
Mini Down
1D: SPARE
2D: MALAY
3D: ATONE
4D: LINK
5D: LOG
The biggest unlock today is recognizing the “word before ___” structure on multiple clues. Once you slot in that first pairing, the rest of the answer choices start to feel inevitable rather than intimidating.
