Mini Crossword September 8, 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 — The Stars and Stripes, e.g. (4)

   Symbol of a country

   5 Across — Wake word for an Amazon device (5)

   Virtual assistant's wake-up word

   6 Across — +1 score in golf (5)

   Golf term for over par

   7 Across — Prepare water for pasta (4)

   Step to make water hot

   8 Across — Some wall decorations (3)

   Types of wall hangings

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

   Same treatment, the other way.

   1 Down — Elevator selection (5)

   What you choose in a lift

   2 Down — Not phony, informally (5)

   Informal term for authenticity

   3 Down — Figure skating jump (4)

   Jump move in figure skating

   4 Down — Half of a portmanteau combined with "-borhood" (3)

   Part of a neighborhood name

   5 Down — "Dancing Queen" band (4)

   Swedish pop group famous

4. 4 Hint 4: First letter of every answer

   One letter each.

   1 Across

   F… (4 letters)

   5 Across

   A… (5 letters)

   6 Across

   B… (5 letters)

   7 Across

   B… (4 letters)

   8 Across

   A… (3 letters)

   1 Down

   F… (5 letters)

   2 Down

   L… (5 letters)

   3 Down

   A… (4 letters)

   4 Down

   G… (3 letters)

   5 Down

   A… (4 letters)

5. 5 Hint 5: Where the grid opened up

   Last rung before the filled answers.

   8 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