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Mini #311 · Friday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — August 7, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #311, our own daily mini crossword. Looking for the New York Times Mini? That’s a different puzzle, published on nytimes.com.

Play puzzle firstAnswer key
All hints
10 clues
Spoiler-light

Across

1 Across: Not covered upHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about clothing or coverings, or lack thereof.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes something exposed or plain, with nothing on it.
  3. Hint 3: It means uncovered or plain, and it starts with B.
5 Across: Biblical son of AbrahamHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a name from the Old Testament family tree.
  2. Hint 2: He was the son promised to Abraham and Sarah in their old age, and later father to Jacob and Esau.
  3. Hint 3: Biblical patriarch's name, starts with I.
7 Across: Specialized jargon or slangHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about specialized vocabulary used by a particular group.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes the special terms doctors, lawyers, or gamers might use that outsiders don't understand.
  3. Hint 3: It means specialized terminology, and it starts with L.
8 Across: Light beer styleHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about a common category of beer sold worldwide.
  2. Hint 2: It's a crisp, pale style of beer, often the default choice at bars.
  3. Hint 3: A common beer type, starts with L.
9 Across: Bookish, socially awkward typeHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a stereotype about someone who loves studying more than socializing.
  2. Hint 2: This describes someone seen as overly intellectual and lacking social skills, often teased in movies.
  3. Hint 3: It refers to a bookish, awkward person, starting with N.

Down

1 Down: Restaurant checkHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what you get at the end of a meal at a restaurant.
  2. Hint 2: This is the piece of paper listing what you owe after eating out.
  3. Hint 3: It's the tab you pay, starting with B.
2 Down: From the largest continentHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about someone's origin tied to a huge landmass.
  2. Hint 2: This describes someone whose heritage traces back to the world's biggest continent.
  3. Hint 3: It means from that continent, starting with A.
3 Down: Stove burner setting, or a mountain chainHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about kitchen appliances or geographic features.
  2. Hint 2: This word can mean a stovetop dial setting or a long chain of mountains.
  3. Hint 3: It's the word for a mountain chain or stove setting, starting with R.
4 Down: Keen and enthusiasticHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how someone feels right before an exciting event.
  2. Hint 2: This describes a person full of excitement and impatience to get started.
  3. Hint 3: It means very enthusiastic, starting with E.
6 Down: Phone charger cableHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what connects your phone to the wall outlet.
  2. Hint 2: This is the wire you plug in to power up your device.
  3. Hint 3: It's the cable used for charging, starting with C.

Use hints slowly

Reveal the first hint, try the grid again, then come back only if the crossing letters still do not move.

See answers

Before you open a hint

Mini #311 has ten clues, so this page holds 30 hints. Hint 1 points you at the idea, hint 2 narrows it down, and hint 3 all but gives it away. On this date, all ten third hints name the answer's first letter.

Short answers have the fewest possible fills, so they make a good start. The four-letter slots are 1-Across, 9-Across, 1-Down and 6-Down; the five-letter slots are 5-Across, 7-Across, 8-Across, 2-Down, 3-Down and 4-Down.

Clues to try first

  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 5-Across, “Biblical son of Abraham”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for August 7, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #311. When you're done, the answer key reveals one answer at a time, and the printable copy is there for paper solvers. The day before, Mini #310 (August 6, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Blood clump that can block a vessel”; the day after, Mini #312 (August 8, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Corporate bosses, for short”.

August 7, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the August 7, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own August 7, 2026 puzzle, with three hints each, from a gentle nudge to a strong push. The answers themselves are on the answer key page.
Is this the NYT Mini hints page?
No. This is an independent daily mini crossword. It is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by The New York Times.
What is the difference between hints and the answer key?
Hints move you toward the answer one step at a time so you can still solve it yourself. If you want to see a solution outright, the answer key at /answers/2026-08-07 reveals one answer at a time.