Mini Crossword August 10, 2026: Clues & Answers

Constructed by Joel Fagliano.

Recap

This August 2026 mini crossword featured a mix of everyday phrases, wordplay, and cultural references. Solvers navigated through short and straightforward clues, including modern prompts, book genres, and weather forecasts. The puzzle wrapped up with familiar terms from TV shows and firefighting equipment.

Mini Crossword hints, one rung at a time

Five rungs, from grid facts to a nudge per clue. The recap above already summed the grid up, so this ladder is here for anyone replaying it fresh rather than as a spoiler shield.

Hint 1: Grid facts

Counted off the grid.

Grid

5 × 5

Clues

5 across, 5 down

Answer lengths

3–5 letters
Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

Open only the one you want.

1 Across — ___ to pay (modern prompt) (3)

Phrase often seen on digital payment terminals

4 Across — Helpful book genre (5)

Self-help book style with instructional titles

6 Across — Source of the headline "Study: Dolphins Not So Intelligent on Land," with "The" (5)

Satirical news source known for humorous articles

7 Across — Summer forecast (5)

Weather forecast for a beach vacation

8 Across — Curvy shape (3)

Shape resembling a curved letter in the alphabet
Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each

Same treatment, the other way.

1 Down — The sisters on "Sister, Sister" or the brothers on "Property Brothers" (5)

Term for siblings who are the same age

2 Down — Lots and lots (4)

Expression meaning a large quantity of something

3 Down — Pay (up) (4)

Informal phrase for paying a debt or bill

4 Down — Fire truck attachment (4)

Equipment used for fighting fires from a distance

5 Down — Heavy burden (4)

Concept representing a significant responsibility or obligation
Hint 4: First letter of every answer

One letter each.

1 Across

T… (3 letters)

4 Across

H… (5 letters)

6 Across

O… (5 letters)

7 Across

S… (5 letters)

8 Across

E… (3 letters)

1 Down

T… (5 letters)

2 Down

A… (4 letters)

3 Down

P… (4 letters)

4 Down

H… (4 letters)

5 Down

O… (4 letters)
Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

Last rung before the filled answers.

1 Across was the shortest entry at 3 letters, and every crossing it made handed over a free letter elsewhere.

Open the answers, clue by clue

Every clue from that grid, with its answer

Each clue opens on its own: the nudge first, the answer folded one level deeper.

Across

1___ to pay (modern prompt)3
Phrase often seen on digital payment terminals
Show answer
TAP
4Helpful book genre5
Self-help book style with instructional titles
Show answer
HOWTO
6Source of the headline "Study: Dolphins Not So Intelligent on Land," with "The"5
Satirical news source known for humorous articles
Show answer
ONION
7Summer forecast5
Weather forecast for a beach vacation
Show answer
SUNNY
8Curvy shape3
Shape resembling a curved letter in the alphabet
Show answer
ESS

Down

1The sisters on "Sister, Sister" or the brothers on "Property Brothers"5
Term for siblings who are the same age
Show answer
TWINS
2Lots and lots4
Expression meaning a large quantity of something
Show answer
ATON
3Pay (up)4
Informal phrase for paying a debt or bill
Show answer
PONY
4Fire truck attachment4
Equipment used for fighting fires from a distance
Show answer
HOSE
5Heavy burden4
Concept representing a significant responsibility or obligation
Show answer
ONUS

This grid by the numbers

Date: Monday, August 10, 2026
Grid: 5 × 5
Clues: 10 — 5 across, 5 down
Answer lengths: 3–5 letters

More Mini Crossword

See the live Mini Crossword hints and answers page for the current grid, or browse every archived Mini Crossword date by month.

Try another puzzle

The live NYT Strands hints, spangram and answers page

Six theme words plus the spangram, with a read-only board that traces each answer.
The live NYT Connections hints and answers page

Sixteen tiles, four groups, and a graded hint ladder from nudge to full answer.