Mini Crossword October 28, 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

   4–5 letters

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

   Open only the one you want.

   1 Across — Work benefit (4)

   Employee benefit or advantage

   5 Across — Delay airing, as a news story (5)

   Postpone broadcasting for strategic reasons

   6 Across — ⏸, on a remote (5)

   Button to stop playback temporarily

   7 Across — Back-of-book search feature (5)

   Alphabetical reference list in books

   8 Across — They get socked (4)

   Body parts often stubbed accidentally

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Chopin's instrument (5)

   Instrument for musical compositions

   2 Down — Chopin practice piece (5)

   Musical study piece for practice

   3 Down — Pinkish wines (5)

   Wines with a rosy color tone

   4 Down — Lego competitor (4)

   Toy building system brand competitor

   5 Down — ___ and polish (4)

   Verb meaning to clean with elbow grease

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   P… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   S… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   P… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   I… (5 letters)

   8 Across

   T… (4 letters)

   1 Down

   P… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   E… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   R… (5 letters)

   4 Down

   K… (4 letters)

   5 Down

   S… (4 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   1 Across was the shortest entry at 4 letters, and every crossing it made handed over a free letter elsewhere.

   Open the answers, clue by clue