All hints
10 clues
Spoiler-light
Across
1 Across: Composer of "The Well-Tempered Clavier"Hint
- Hint 1: This clue is about a famous classical music composer.
- Hint 2: He was a Baroque-era German composer known for organ and keyboard works, and his last name is also a slang term for a music genre snobbery.
- Hint 3: This person wrote a huge collection of preludes and fugues for keyboard; starts with B.
5 Across: Very manly, as an attitudeHint
- Hint 1: Think about a stereotype of tough, exaggerated masculinity.
- Hint 2: This word describes someone acting overly tough or aggressively proud of being masculine, often used in Spanish-influenced slang.
- Hint 3: This describes swaggering, tough-guy masculine pride; starts with M.
6 Across: Feels sore, as muscles after a workoutHint
- Hint 1: Think about how your body feels the day after intense exercise.
- Hint 2: This word describes the lingering pain or stiffness in muscles after strain or overuse.
- Hint 3: This means to hurt or be tender, as in the phrase 'my muscles ___'; starts with A.
7 Across: Where chickens sleep at nightHint
- Hint 1: Think about a place associated with poultry and nighttime.
- Hint 2: This is the elevated perch or shelter where birds like chickens settle down to sleep.
- Hint 3: This is the term for a bird's resting or sleeping spot; starts with R.
8 Across: Tie in a shoelaceHint
- Hint 1: Think about how you secure your shoes before walking out the door.
- Hint 2: This is the loop or fastening you make by tying laces together.
- Hint 3: This is a tied loop or knotted fastening, often for shoes; starts with K.
Down
1 Down: Breakfast strips from a pigHint
- Hint 1: Think about a classic breakfast food that comes from pigs.
- Hint 2: This is the crispy, salty meat strips often served alongside eggs and toast.
- Hint 3: This is cured pork often fried for breakfast; starts with B.
2 Down: Sound made by a sneezeHint
- Hint 1: Think about the noise your body makes when your nose reacts to irritation.
- Hint 2: This is the classic exclamation people say to represent a sneeze sound.
- Hint 3: This is the onomatopoeic word for a sneeze; starts with A.
3 Down: Trunk in the body, or a treasure boxHint
- Hint 1: Think about a part of your upper body or a container for valuables.
- Hint 2: This word can mean either the area containing your ribs and lungs, or a large box used to store treasure.
- Hint 3: This refers to your ribcage area or a storage box for valuables; starts with C.
4 Down: One who throws a partyHint
- Hint 1: Think about who organizes and welcomes guests at a gathering.
- Hint 2: This person invites people over and takes charge of entertaining them at an event.
- Hint 3: This is the person who holds and organizes a party; starts with H.
5 Down: Grade left by a teacherHint
- Hint 1: Think about what a teacher gives you on an assignment or test.
- Hint 2: This is the letter or number grade a teacher writes on your paper.
- Hint 3: This is the evaluation or grade left on schoolwork; starts with M.
Use hints slowly
Reveal the first hint, try the grid again, then come back only if the crossing letters still do not move.
See answersAugust 15, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ
- Are these hints for the August 15, 2026 Mini Crossword?
- Yes. Every clue on this page is for the August 15, 2026 puzzle, with three progressive hints each — from a gentle nudge to a stronger push, but never the full answer.
- 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/2026-08-15 reveals one answer at a time.