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Mini #315 · Tuesday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — August 11, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #315, 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: Like a refreshing glass of tea in summerHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how a drink is served when it's hot outside.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes a beverage that's been chilled with frozen water cubes.
  3. Hint 3: It means chilled with frozen cubes and starts with I.
5 Across: Pattern worn by soldiers, informallyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a casual, shortened way soldiers might refer to their uniform's look.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the mottled green-and-brown pattern used for military disguise.
  3. Hint 3: It's a short slang term for camouflage patterns and starts with C.
6 Across: Rub out with a pencil's other endHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about correcting a mistake you made in pencil.
  2. Hint 2: You'd use the pink end of a pencil to do this to unwanted marks.
  3. Hint 3: It means to remove pencil marks and starts with E.
8 Across: Scenic overlook's offeringHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what you'd see from a high point like a mountain lookout.
  2. Hint 2: This is the visual scene or vista you take in from a scenic spot.
  3. Hint 3: It means a scenic outlook or vista and starts with V.
9 Across: Anything ___? (checkout question)Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is something a cashier might ask before finishing your purchase.
  2. Hint 2: It's the phrase completing 'Anything ___?' when checking if you need more items.
  3. Hint 3: It completes a common checkout phrase and starts with E.

Down

1 Down: Cubes in a cold drinkHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what makes a drink cold besides refrigeration.
  2. Hint 2: These are the frozen water chunks you toss into a glass.
  3. Hint 3: It means frozen water pieces and starts with I.
2 Down: Shape a turkey into slicesHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what you do to a holiday turkey before serving it.
  2. Hint 2: This means to cut meat into neat pieces for serving.
  3. Hint 3: It means to cut meat into slices and starts with C.
3 Down: Message sent through your inboxHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about digital communication you check on your phone or computer.
  2. Hint 2: This is a message sent electronically rather than by paper mail.
  3. Hint 3: It means an electronic message and starts with E.
4 Down: Amounts of medicine to takeHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how medicine is measured out for each use.
  2. Hint 2: These are the specific measured portions you take of medication.
  3. Hint 3: It means measured medicine portions and starts with D.
7 Down: Female sheepHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about farm animals and their genders.
  2. Hint 2: This is the female counterpart to a ram in a flock.
  3. Hint 3: It means a female sheep and starts with E.

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 #315 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-Down and 7-Down; the four-letter slots are 1-Across, 5-Across, 8-Across and 9-Across; the five-letter slots are 6-Across, 2-Down, 3-Down and 4-Down.

Clues to try first

  • 9-Across, “Anything ___? (checkout question)”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.

More for August 11, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #315. 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 #314 (August 10, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Emeril's exclamation while cooking”; the day after, Mini #316 (August 12, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Chimp or gorilla”.

August 11, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the August 11, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own August 11, 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/2026-08-11 reveals one answer at a time.