SUEDE to SWEDE, TIDAL waves and DISCs—May 12's NYT Mini crossword is clever, compact, and packed with puzzling joy set to prepare
Every day, puzzle fans test the New York Times Mini Crossword to get their morning mental stimulation. Small in size but built within a five-by-five grid, the Mini manages to deliver a greater quantity of wit and sleight of hand per clue than most regular-sized crosswords. The May 12 issue provided another enjoyable challenge. It appeared easy, but true to the motto of ‘look again,’ it was not as easy upon further inspection.
Between pop culture, clever word play, and one especially clever pairing, the daily puzzle adequately challenged solvers. One of the benefits of the Mini is to turn straightforward clues into clever riddles, which encourages lateral thinking. Yesterday’s mini puzzle used that technique, and more.
1A. The ‘D’ of D.J. – DISC
Easy, but only if you associated music terminology with the clue abbreviation.
5A. However, yet to be joined in wedlock – UNWED
A typical model of a crossword clue, designed in formal, archaic English.
7A. Fabric for clothing that reverses 3-Down upon ‘doubling’ a letter – SUEDE
This was more difficult than it initially seemed. The ‘doubling’ is doubling a ‘U’ to form a ‘W’ to achieve SWEDE (3D). A nice twist.
8A. As fluid as the ocean’s flow – TIDAL
Poetic and precise. Most would have been inclined towards ‘wavy’ or ‘fluid,’ but ‘tidal’ is most appropriate.
9A. The actress Garr–Teri
Ageless trivia-type question. If you know, you know.
1D. ‘___ in the Wind’ (a Kansas classic) – DUST
A song title with a melodic nod to old-school rock enthusiasts.
2D. The Inuit People of the Arctic
Respectfully and accurately, this clue provided a cultural reference.
3D. Stockholm resident – SWEDE
This was a charming (and confounding) match for 7A. ‘Suede’ and ‘Swede’ form a close-homophone pair that even expert solvers struggled with.
4D. An old-fashioned hope chest is lined with cedar.
A favorite ingredient in crosswords, meeting both utility and tradition.
6D. Where you can find lox – DELI
A delicious little clue. Once you pick up on the food reference, it registers immediately.
The current NYT Mini puzzle once more showed how this modest-sized puzzle always delivers big ‘aha’ moments. The words ‘SUEDE’ and ‘SWEDE,’ for instance, offered a masterclass in wordplay, transforming a simple letter substitution into a thinking challenge. That’s the true charm of the Mini. It’s not so much about figuring it out fast, but about being imaginative and detecting the puzzle-maker’s devious tricks.
On the smart grid for May 12, solvers had another layer of satisfaction—and proof that no puzzle is too small and can leave an indelible mark. Tomorrow will bring its grid, a new test, with a new opportunity to exercise the mind.