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Mini #371 · Tuesday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — October 6, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #371, 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: Passing craze or trendHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about something that's briefly popular before people move on.
  2. Hint 2: It's a short-lived obsession, like a toy or diet everyone talks about for a while then forgets.
  3. Hint 3: A temporary fashion or enthusiasm; starts with F.
4 Across: Shrink back in fearHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes a physical reaction when something scary happens suddenly.
  2. Hint 2: Think of flinching or pulling back when startled or afraid.
  3. Hint 3: To shrink away in fear; starts with C.
6 Across: Get ready for impactHint
  1. Hint 1: This is what you do right before something hits you, like turbulence on a plane.
  2. Hint 2: Think of tensing up and preparing yourself for a jolt or shock.
  3. Hint 3: To prepare firmly for an impact; starts with B.
7 Across: Watchband or beltHint
  1. Hint 1: This holds a watch to your wrist or pants to your waist.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a narrow band of material used to fasten or support something.
  3. Hint 3: A strip of material for binding or securing; starts with S.
8 Across: "___, you!" (attention-getter)Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is a casual way to get someone's attention before saying something.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a short greeting or exclamation used to call out to someone.
  3. Hint 3: A casual attention-grabbing interjection; starts with H.

Down

1 Down: Onward and ___ (forward)Hint
  1. Hint 1: This phrase pairs with 'onward' to describe moving forward in time or progress.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the second word in the expression meaning continuing ahead, as in 'from now on'.
  3. Hint 3: A word meaning forward or ahead; starts with F.
2 Down: Conscious of what's going onHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes someone who notices what's happening around them.
  2. Hint 2: Think of being alert, informed, or mindful of a situation.
  3. Hint 3: A state of being mindful or informed; starts with A.
3 Down: Rot over timeHint
  1. Hint 1: This is what happens to organic material left out too long.
  2. Hint 2: Think of food or wood breaking down and rotting gradually.
  3. Hint 3: The process of decomposing or rotting; starts with D.
4 Down: Network with an eye logoHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a major American TV network known for news and entertainment.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the network whose logo features a simple eye symbol.
  3. Hint 3: A broadcasting company abbreviation; starts with C.
5 Down: One set of lifting exercises, informallyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is gym slang for completing one full lifting motion.
  2. Hint 2: Think of what you count when doing bicep curls or squats.
  3. Hint 3: A single repetition in a workout; starts with R.

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 #371 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

  • 8-Across, “‘___, you!’ (attention-getter)”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.
  • 1-Down, “Onward and ___ (forward)”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.

More for October 6, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #371. 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 #370 (October 5, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Soothing gel plant for sunburns”.

October 6, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the October 6, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own October 6, 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/2026-10-06 reveals one answer at a time.