Mini Crossword October 27, 2026: Clues & Answers

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.

1. 1 Hint 1: Grid facts

   Counted off the grid.

   Grid

   5 × 5

   Clues

   5 across, 5 down

   Answer lengths

   3–5 letters

2. 2 Hint 2: Across clues, with an extra nudge each

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — Say "C-H-E-E-S-E"? (5)

   Verbal pronunciation of a word

   6 Across — Number of stripes on many world flags (5)

   Common number of stripes on national flags

   7 Across — Places visited on a Clue board (5)

   Locations on a classic detective board game

   8 Across — "Go back" command (4)

   Keyboard shortcut for reversing an action

   9 Across — Follower of six or seven, but not five (4)

   Age group following a certain number

3. 3 Hint 3: Down clues, with an extra nudge each

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Walk with swagger (5)

   Pretentious or confident way of walking

   2 Down — What gets texts (and also scrolls?) (5)

   Device for communication and browsing

   3 Down — Wear away slowly (5)

   Gradual wearing away of a surface

   4 Down — Kind of juice in a French 75 cocktail (5)

   Type of citrus used in cocktails

   5 Down — "___ Misérables" (3)

   French article in a famous musical title

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   S… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   T… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   R… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   U… (4 letters)

   9 Across

   T… (4 letters)

   1 Down

   S… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   P… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   E… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   L… (5 letters)

   5 Down

   L… (3 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

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

   Open the answers, clue by clue