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Table of Contents

• Overview
• Solving Strategy
• Complete Answers
• FAQs

Today’s Mini Crossword at a Glance

This August 18 NYT mini crossword from constructor Joel Fagliano plays with themes around companionship, pets, and everyday items. The 5×5 grid is straightforward in structure but includes a few clues that require some lateral thinking, particularly around emoji interpretation and wordplay.

Quick Puzzle Breakdown (No Spoilers)

• Grid size: 5×5 with 9 clues total (5 across, 4 down)
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate, with one standout visual/emoji-based clue
• Theme elements: Pets, beverages, and common expressions woven throughout

Solving Strategy and Tricky Spots

Best Entry Points

Start with across clue 6 (Mickey Mouse’s pet dog). This is a direct reference with a short, iconic answer that fills cleanly. Clue 9 (Blue streams down a yellow emoji’s face) is visual but should become clear once you think about emoji representations of sadness. These two give you strong anchors for the rest of the puzzle.

Where It Gets Tricky

Clue 1 across (Big ___ as a cuddling partner) requires knowing that “spoon” is the term for the cuddling position. If you’re unfamiliar with that usage, the down clues help confirm it. Clue 8 across (Inside information, informally) uses “intel” which is a common abbreviation in crosswords but might not be the first word that comes to mind. Clue 2 down (It comes with wings on the side) is a bit of a trick: the answer refers to chicken wings served with sides, not literal wings.

Complete Clue Answers

Across

• 1. Big ___ (cuddling partner): SPOON. This clue plays on the slang term for spooning, a common cuddling position.
• 6. Mickey Mouse’s pet dog: PLUTO. A straightforward reference to Disney’s classic character.
• 7. Foamy coffee order: LATTE. The espresso-based drink known for its microfoam milk.
• 8. Inside information, informally: INTEL. Short for intelligence, commonly used in crosswords for secret or exclusive info.
• 9. Blue streams down a yellow emoji’s face: TEARS. This describes the crying-laughing emoji (or a sad face emoji), where tears are the key visual element.

Down

• 1. Divide, as the check: SPLIT. To split the bill is the common dining phrase.
• 2. It comes with wings on the side: PLATE. The answer refers to chicken (or another protein) served on a plate with wings as sides, playing on “plate” as a dish presentation.
• 3. “Get ___ town!”: OUTTA. Colloquial contraction of “out of,” as in the classic phrase “get outta town!”
• 4. Furry animal seen swimming around a kelp forest: OTTER. Sea otters are famously found in kelp forests along coastal waters.
• 5. Christmas carols: NOEL. A traditional term for Christmas songs, borrowed from French.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is the answer to “Blue streams down a yellow emoji’s face” tears and not something else? The clue is describing the visual appearance of a crying or laughing-crying emoji, where tears are the distinguishing blue feature on a yellow face. It’s a modern, visual reference.
• What does “spoon” mean in the context of cuddling? Spooning is a common cuddling position where one person nestles behind another, resembling two spoons stacked together. It’s used figuratively in crosswords and everyday language.
• Is this puzzle easier than typical NYT minis? Today’s puzzle skews toward the easier side, with mostly direct references and common knowledge. The emoji clue is the standout unconventional element.

Final Thoughts

This mini crossword leans into contemporary references like emojis while maintaining classic crossword staples like Mickey Mouse and Christmas carols. It’s an accessible solve that rewards both pop culture knowledge and familiar crossword vocabulary. As the WordFinder Tips team noted, today’s puzzle demonstrates how modern constructors blend traditional wordplay with visual language that reflects how we communicate online.

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