Crossword enthusiasts know the NYT Mini is the perfect way to kickstart your morning mental workout. Today’s puzzle (April 11, 2025) offers interesting clues to get your brain cells firing. Let’s dive into the solution and explore what makes this Mini special if you have already solved yesterday’s challenge..
Today’s Puzzle Solution
Across
- SKIS – “Bad things to see tumbling down a mountain on their own.”
- The clue refers to unattended skis sliding down a mountain, which would indeed be a concerning sight for anyone on the slopes!
- WINK – “When repeated, ‘If ya know what I mean…’”
- The phrase “wink, wink” is often used to indicate innuendo or a hidden meaning.
- NUDGE – “When repeated, ‘If ya know what I mean…’”
- Similar to “wink,” a “nudge, nudge” is a reference to indicating something suggestive without stating it explicitly. This phrase was popularized in a Monty Python sketch.
- ENDOW – “Provide funding for”
- To endow means to provide financial resources, often to an institution like a university or charitable foundation.
- EGOT – “Quartet of awards won by Whoopi Goldberg, for short”
- EGOT stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony – the four major American entertainment awards. Whoopi Goldberg is one of the few performers who has won all four.
Down
- SWUNG – “Successfully pulled off, as a deal”
- When you’ve “swung” a deal, you’ve managed to successfully complete or arrange it.
- KIDDO – “Li’l tyke”
- An affectionate term for a child or young person.
- INGOT – “Gold brick”
- An ingot is a block of cast metal, often gold, silver, or steel.
- SKEW – “Distort, as data”
- To skew data means to distort or misrepresent it, often making it lean in a particular direction.
- NEE – “French word before a maiden name”
- “Née” is French for “born” and is used in English to indicate a woman’s maiden name, as in “Jane Smith, née Jones.”
What’s Challenging in Today’s Puzzle
The primary challenge in today’s puzzle comes from the similar clues for 5-Across and 6-Across. Both refer to repeated gestures that indicate “If ya know what I mean…” but require different answers: WINK and NUDGE. This wordplay tests solvers’ knowledge of colloquial expressions and their ability to distinguish between similar idioms.
Another tricky aspect is the clue for 1-Across. While “bad things tumbling down a mountain” might initially bring to mind avalanches, the correct answer is SKIS. This misdirection requires solvers to think more literally about objects that could be seen tumbling down a slope.
The clue for 1-Down (SWUNG) might also pose difficulty, as “successfully pulled off a deal” could have multiple potential answers like “ACED” or “MADE.” Solvers need to work with the crossing answers to determine the correct solution.
Conclusion
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword showcases clever wordplay and cultural references that pack a lot of punch into a small grid.
The EGOT reference adds a touch of entertainment trivia, while the parallel “If ya know what I mean…” clues demonstrate how similar phrases can be constructed from different components. Whether you found it challenging or breezed through it, this puzzle offers a satisfying start to your day of word games.
Remember that consistent practice is the key to improving your crossword skills. See you tomorrow for another mini-adventure!
