If you are stuck on today’s daily puzzle, you aren’t alone. The New York Times Mini Crossword is designed to be a quick, engaging challenge, but even the shortest grids can present tricky wordplay or unexpected connections.
Below are the complete answers for the April 14 edition to help you finish your puzzle or check your work.
Across Answers
- 1A: Word after “lily” or “launch” — PAD
- 4A: “That criticism makes total sense!” — FAIR
- 5A: Apology after a 1-/4-Down — SORRY
- 6A: Two in a double play — OUTS
- 7A: Sneaky — SLY
Down Answers
- 1D: With 4-Down, spilling wine on the carpet or bringing uninvited guests — PARTY
- 2D: Puts on TV — AIRS
- 3D: Like summers in a Mediterranean climate — DRY
- 4D: See 1-Down — FOUL
Quick Tips for Mini Crossword Solvers
The Mini Crossword often relies on compound words and common phrases. For instance, today’s puzzle used the relationship between “Party” and “Foul” to create the phrase “Party Foul.”
To improve your speed in these daily puzzles, keep an eye out for:
1. Common Suffixes/Prefixes: Looking for how words connect (like “Lilypad”).
2. Cross-Referencing: Using the Down clues to verify the letters in your Across answers.
3. Theme Recognition: Identifying if a specific word or concept is being repeated across different clues.
Summary: Today’s puzzle focused heavily on common idioms and phrase completions to bridge the across and down clues.
