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Mini #316 · Wednesday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — August 12, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #316, 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
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Across

1 Across: Chimp or gorillaHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a category of large primates you might see at a zoo.
  2. Hint 2: This animal is often confused with monkeys but has no tail, and gorillas belong to this group.
  3. Hint 3: A large tailless primate; starts with A.
4 Across: Color between black and whiteHint
  1. Hint 1: This is about mixing two extremes to get a neutral shade.
  2. Hint 2: It's the color of storm clouds and elephants, right between black and white.
  3. Hint 3: A neutral color between black and white; starts with G.
5 Across: Overused, like a clichéHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about phrases that have been used so much they lost their punch.
  2. Hint 2: This word describes something so overused it feels stale or unoriginal, like a worn-out saying.
  3. Hint 3: Describes something overused and unoriginal; starts with T.
6 Across: Peck on the cheekHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a small, affectionate gesture, often between friends or family.
  2. Hint 2: It's a light touch of the lips as a sign of affection, often given on the cheek.
  3. Hint 3: A brief touch of lips showing affection; starts with K.
7 Across: The loneliest number, in a songHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a famous phrase about isolation from a classic song.
  2. Hint 2: Three Dog Night sang about how this specific number can feel very isolating.
  3. Hint 3: A single digit associated with loneliness in song lyrics; starts with O.

Down

1 Down: Get up out of bedHint
  1. Hint 1: This is what you do first thing in the morning.
  2. Hint 2: It means to get out of a lying or sleeping position and stand up.
  3. Hint 3: To get up from bed or a resting position; starts with A.
2 Down: Gentle taps on the backHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a comforting gesture someone might give you when you're upset.
  2. Hint 2: These are light, repeated touches meant to soothe or comfort, often given on the back.
  3. Hint 3: Light comforting touches, often on the back; starts with P.
3 Down: Organ you see withHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a body part involved in one of your five senses.
  2. Hint 2: It's the organ located in your face that lets you see the world around you.
  3. Hint 3: The organ used for vision; starts with E.
4 Down: Big cheesy smileHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes a wide, happy facial expression.
  2. Hint 2: It's a big smile that shows lots of teeth, often described as cheesy or mischievous.
  3. Hint 3: A broad, toothy smile; starts with G.
5 Down: Boxing win when a fighter can't continue, for shortHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a boxing term you'd hear when a match ends early.
  2. Hint 2: It's an abbreviation used when a fighter is knocked down and can't get back up in time.
  3. Hint 3: Boxing abbreviation for a fight-ending knockout; starts with T.

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 #316 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, 7-Across, 3-Down and 5-Down; the four-letter slots are 4-Across, 6-Across, 2-Down and 4-Down; the five-letter slots are 5-Across and 1-Down.

Clues to try first

  • 5-Down, “Boxing win when a fighter can't continue, for short”, is marked as a short form, so expect an abbreviated answer.

More for August 12, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #316. 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 #315 (August 11, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Like a refreshing glass of tea in summer”; the day after, Mini #317 (August 13, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Luxury German cars, in the plural”.

August 12, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the August 12, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own August 12, 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/2026-08-12 reveals one answer at a time.