Today’s Mini felt pretty friendly at first glance, but then a couple of clues reminded us that the NYT likes a mix of pop culture, quick wordplay, and “where did you even learn that?” trivia. If you were stuck on 6-Across (you’re not alone), the good news is that most of the grid pieces click together once you trust the abbreviations and the more familiar phrases.
Hints
Across offers a few clear lanes. Two entries point to repeating “Jack ___” answers—think of the repeated surname that shows up in different entertainment contexts. Another clue uses an “anti-something” framing for battery life; don’t overthink the percentage idea, just translate it into the common phrase.
For the remaining across items, one is a hair-loss brand (it’s the big-name, not the generic), and another is a class of animals associated with thumping feet. The boxer clue is a straightforward match to the famous ring names, and the final across clue is a simple verb meaning “to attempt.”
Down starts with a chatty phrase that feels like something you’d say to cut off an argument. After that, expect quick vocabulary: “catch, as a criminal” is a single common verb, while lemon and grapefruit juice hint at the property they have in common.
One down clue points to “underneath,” another to an actor’s last name from a well-known show, and another to a long-nosed fish. The final stretch leans on a word for “understand” (not a long definition) and a verb meaning “make public” a grievance.
Want the broader context of how these clues fit into the day’s puzzle rhythm? Use Connections as a companion concept for pattern-finding—today’s Mini shares that same “spot the structure” vibe.
Answers
Mini Across
1A: ANA
4A: WHITE
6A: GERBILS
8A: ALI
9A: DIE
10A: ROGAINE
12A: WHITE
13A: TRY
Mini Down
1D: ALRIGHT
2D: NAB
3D: ACIDITY
4D: BELOW
5D: KLINE
6D: GAR
7D: SEE
11D: AIR
If you’re trying to get faster tomorrow, here’s a small solving habit that often helps with puzzles like Connections: circle any clue that looks like it’s repeating a pattern (like the “Jack ___” entries) and solve those early. They tend to unlock neighboring fills because your brain stops treating the grid as random.
