About these answers
Mini #381's ten answers fill 21 white squares, and every one of them is crossed, so each letter belongs to one Across and one Down answer. The longest answers are BRIAN (6-Across), MARIA (1-Down), ACING (2-Down) and PLATE (3-Down), at five letters; the shortest are SUN (4-Down) and BTW (6-Down).
The grid uses fifteen different letters. The most common is A, in four squares, and 8 of the 21 squares hold a vowel (A, E, I, O or U). There’s no J, Q, X or Z in it.
The trickier clues, explained
- 6-Across, “Boy's name shared by Monty Python's ‘Life of ___’”: the blank is BRIAN, giving “Boy's name shared by Monty Python's ‘Life of BRIAN’”.
- 6-Down, “‘By the way,’ in texting shorthand”: the short form is BTW.
More for October 16, 2026
Only need a nudge? The hints for October 16, 2026 keep answers hidden and give three hints per clue. You can also play Mini #381 or print it. Neighbouring keys: October 15, 2026.