NYT Mini Crossword: March 14 Puzzle Recap—Can You Crack These Clues?
If you’ve ever felt the thrill of racing against the clock to complete a crossword, you know the NYT Mini is the ultimate daily brain teaser. Today’s puzzle was packed with some head-scratching clues, a bit of sports trivia, and a nostalgic nod to academia. But let’s be real—some of these clues were trickier than expected. If you got stuck, don’t worry. We’ve got the hints and answers right here to help you out.
Clues That Had Solvers Stumped
One of the biggest talking points? The record-breaking contract in baseball. If you guessed Juan Soto’s new team, but weren’t sure, you’re not alone. And then there’s the noted octet in higher education—a clue that might have left some solvers scratching their heads.
Here’s a breakdown of today’s puzzle:
Across Hints & Answers
1 Across: Female parent of a horse → DAM
4 Across: A type of shot in tennis → SLICE
6 Across: Not heavy → LIGHT
7 Across: Like poison and grape → IVIES
8 Across: Teacher’s _____, an educator’s favorite student → PET
Down Hints & Answers
1 Down: A finger → DIGIT
2 Down: Feel compassion → ACHE
3 Down: Sounds like Brooklyn’s NBA team → METS
4 Down: Watch out for banana peels on the floor or you might do this → SLIP
5 Down: Have an interesting life → LIVE
Was This Puzzle Too American-Centric?
While the NYT Mini is meant to be a quick, fun challenge, today’s crossword leaned heavily on U.S. sports references and Ivy League trivia. Some solvers might have found it a little exclusionary—especially if baseball and American universities aren’t their strong suits. Even seasoned crossword fans admitted that METS and IVIES weren’t immediate giveaways.
But if you managed to crack this puzzle in under a minute, congrats—you’re a crossword pro! And if you didn’t? No worries. There’s always tomorrow’s challenge.
Final Thoughts
The NYT Mini is always a rollercoaster of frustration and triumph, and today’s puzzle was no exception. Whether you breezed through it or had to wrestle with a few tricky clues, one thing’s for sure—crossword fans never back down from a challenge.
See you in two weeks for the next brain-bending edition!
