Whether you’re a seasoned crossword solver or just diving into the addictive world of the New York Times Games, the NYT Mini Crossword is the perfect quick puzzle to start your day. It offers a fast mental workout in a compact 5×5 format, and today’s puzzle (Saturday, May 17, 2025) delivered a fun mix of pop culture, wordplay, and trivia.
The layout of today’s Mini is a little quirky, but the clues were mostly approachable — with a few that might trip up even regular solvers. Let’s break down the full puzzle and go clue-by-clue so you can see how each answer fits.
NYT Mini Crossword Answers for May 17, 2025
Across Clues and Answers:
1A. “Link in ___” (promotional catchphrase on social media)
Answer: BIO
This one’s a common phrase you’ll find in Instagram or TikTok captions. “Link in bio” refers to a clickable link in a user’s profile section, especially since direct linking isn’t allowed in individual posts.
4A. They’re ground in a coffee grinder
Answer: BEANS
Straightforward and satisfying — coffee beans are the essential starting point for any caffeine lover’s morning brew.
6A. Bike riders’ headwear
Answer: HELMETS
Safety first! Helmets protect cyclists from injuries and are a must-have for every bike ride.
8A. Variety of tomato whose name is also a meat
Answer: BEEFSTEAK
Beefsteak tomatoes are large, juicy, and often used in sandwiches. The wordplay here lies in the “steak” part — clever and satisfying for solvers who enjoy a foodie reference.
10A. Shoe spec that describes this puzzle?
Answer: EXTRAWIDE
This is a cheeky clue! “Extra wide” works as a shoe size, but also describes the horizontal sprawl of the puzzle grid itself. A fun meta nod to the puzzle’s layout.
11A. “Cha-ching, nothin’ to it!”
Answer: EASYMONEY
This phrase is all about effortless profit. The clue uses playful slang to point you toward the answer, and the phrase feels satisfying to enter, especially as a capstone to the puzzle.
Also read:
Down Clues and Answers:
1D. Church spot where bats hang out
Answer: BELFRY
A slightly tricky one if you’re not familiar with church architecture. A belfry is the part of a bell tower where the bells are hung — and it’s also a stereotypical “bat hangout” in stories and sayings.
2D. The first three words of “Green Eggs and Ham,” straight from the narrator
Answer: IAMSAM
A fun pop culture reference for Dr. Seuss fans! The phrase comes from the very beginning of the beloved children’s book.
3D. Boxing punch combo
Answer: ONETWO
A classic combo in boxing — a jab followed by a cross. This clue was a quick fill-in for sports fans or anyone familiar with boxing terms.
4D. Purple slices in a salad
Answer: BEETS
Beets add a vibrant purple hue and earthy flavor to salads. This clue is direct but could be slightly confusing if you thought of onions first.
5D. Oktoberfest glass
Answer: STEIN
This is a large beer mug, often made of stoneware or glass, and commonly seen at German beer festivals like Oktoberfest.
6D. Prefix with decimal, in coding
Answer: HEXA
Short for hexadecimal — a base-16 numbering system widely used in programming and color codes in web design (e.g., #FF5733).
7D. One-named hit singer with 1985’s “Smooth Operator”
Answer: SADE
A smooth clue about a smooth artist. Sade is known for her sultry vocals and chill vibes. A treat for music lovers to see her name pop up.
8D. Spelling ___
Answer: BEE
A simple but classic crossword fill. Whether it’s a spelling bee or a buzz-worthy puzzle, this word shows up often.
9D. Paper with the answers
Answer: KEY
A “key” is a common term in education and puzzles for an answer sheet. This clue rounds out the Down section nicely.
Final Thoughts
Today’s Mini Crossword was a perfect balance of straightforward definitions, wordplay, and cultural references. The puzzle’s “extra wide” theme added a playful layer to the layout, and the clues touched on a little bit of everything — from Dr. Seuss and German beer mugs to coding and pop music.
If you were stuck on 6D: “Prefix with decimal, in coding”, don’t worry — HEXA isn’t a term most people use every day unless they’re deep into programming. But once the surrounding answers filled in, it likely became clearer.
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Want More Mini Crossword Fun?
The New York Times Games section features tons of other puzzles — from the famous daily Wordle and Connections to Spelling Bee, Strands, and of course, the Classic Crossword.
The best part? Today’s Mini Crossword is free for anyone to play. If you’re hooked and want to try past puzzles, you’ll need a subscription to the NYT Games archive — but it’s well worth it for puzzle fans.
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Tip of the Day
If you’re looking to improve at solving Minis, try to focus on word patterns and short, common answers. Cross-checking Across and Down clues together is the fastest way to unlock tougher squares.
