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Mini #313 · Sunday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — August 9, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #313, 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: Coffee mugHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what you'd drink your morning coffee from.
  2. Hint 2: It's the small container, often with a handle, that holds your beverage.
  3. Hint 3: A container for a hot drink; starts with C.
4 Across: Jar brand for canning, or a bricklayerHint
  1. Hint 1: This clue has two meanings: a canning jar brand and a construction worker.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the person who lays bricks and mortar, or the jars you use for preserving fruit.
  3. Hint 3: A tradesman who builds with brick and stone, or a canning jar brand; starts with M.
6 Across: Entertain and delightHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how you make someone smile or have fun.
  2. Hint 2: This means to entertain someone in a delightful, enjoyable way.
  3. Hint 3: To entertain in a pleasing way; starts with A.
7 Across: Playfully mockHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of light, playful teasing between friends.
  2. Hint 2: This is what you do when you gently mock someone in a fun, not mean way.
  3. Hint 3: To make fun of someone playfully; starts with T.
8 Across: Cheer at a bullfightHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of what spectators shout in Spain during a bullfighting event.
  2. Hint 2: This is a short exclamation of approval or excitement at a bullfight.
  3. Hint 3: A cheer of enthusiasm; starts with O.

Down

1 Down: Brief movie role for a big starHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about a short but memorable film appearance by a famous actor.
  2. Hint 2: This is a brief but notable role, often for someone well-known, in a movie or show.
  3. Hint 3: A short appearance by a celebrity in a film; starts with C.
2 Down: "As ___" (like always)Hint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a phrase meaning 'like normal' or 'like always.'
  2. Hint 2: This word means ordinary or typical, completing the phrase 'as ___.'
  3. Hint 3: A word meaning ordinary or typical; starts with U.
3 Down: Group that chases the bad guys in a WesternHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of an old Western movie chase scene.
  2. Hint 2: This is the group of people, often led by a sheriff, who chase criminals.
  3. Hint 3: A group formed to catch outlaws; starts with P.
4 Down: Wrestling surface, or a welcome ___Hint
  1. Hint 1: Think of what wrestlers stand on, or what's placed by your front door.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes a padded floor surface or a small rug for wiping your feet.
  3. Hint 3: A flat surface for wrestling or wiping shoes; starts with M.
5 Down: Word before a maiden nameHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a word used before someone's birth name after marriage.
  2. Hint 2: This French-derived word introduces someone's maiden name.
  3. Hint 3: A word meaning 'born as'; starts with N.

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 #313 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 three-letter slots are 1-Across, 8-Across, 4-Down and 5-Down; the five-letter slots are 4-Across, 6-Across, 7-Across, 1-Down, 2-Down and 3-Down.

Clues to try first

  • 2-Down, “‘As ___’ (like always)”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.
  • 4-Down, “Wrestling surface, or a welcome ___”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.
  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 3-Down, “Group that chases the bad guys in a Western”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for August 9, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #313. 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 #312 (August 8, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Corporate bosses, for short”; the day after, Mini #314 (August 10, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Emeril's exclamation while cooking”.

August 9, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the August 9, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own August 9, 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/2026-08-09 reveals one answer at a time.