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Mini #382 · Saturday

Our Mini Crossword Hints — October 17, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #382, 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: Marshy, wet groundHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about a type of squishy outdoor terrain.
  2. Hint 2: It's the kind of ground you might sink into while hiking, often found in swamps.
  3. Hint 3: A wet, spongy area of land; starts with B.
4 Across: In that place, not hereHint
  1. Hint 1: This word points to a location away from the speaker.
  2. Hint 2: It's the opposite of 'here,' used to indicate a different spot.
  3. Hint 3: Means 'in that place'; starts with T.
6 Across: Place to book a room for the nightHint
  1. Hint 1: Think travel and lodging.
  2. Hint 2: It's a building where travelers pay to sleep for the night.
  3. Hint 3: A place with rooms for guests; starts with H.
7 Across: Cars, informallyHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a casual way to refer to vehicles.
  2. Hint 2: Think of the everyday word for cars when talking casually.
  3. Hint 3: Slang term for automobiles; starts with A.
8 Across: Give it a goHint
  1. Hint 1: This is about making an attempt at something.
  2. Hint 2: It's what you do when you decide to attempt a task, even if unsure of success.
  3. Hint 3: Means to attempt; starts with T.

Down

1 Down: Girl's name that sounds like it could gamble a lot?Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is a common girl's name with a playful pun about risk-taking.
  2. Hint 2: The name sounds like it contains a word related to wagering, as if she 'bets a lot.'
  3. Hint 3: A feminine name that sounds like 'bets' plus a 'y'; starts with B.
2 Down: Classic cream-filled sandwich cookieHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of a popular snack with two chocolate wafers.
  2. Hint 2: It's a famous cookie brand known for its cream filling between dark cookies.
  3. Hint 3: A classic sandwich cookie; starts with O.
3 Down: Firms up, as hair productHint
  1. Hint 1: This is about styling hair with a certain product.
  2. Hint 2: Think of what hair gel does to keep a style fixed.
  3. Hint 3: Means to become firm or set, like hair product; starts with G.
4 Down: "Take ___ back!"Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is part of a common phrase when asking someone to retract words.
  2. Hint 2: It's what you say when demanding someone take back their statement.
  3. Hint 3: A word used in 'Take ___ back'; starts with T.
5 Down: 60 minutesHint
  1. Hint 1: This refers to a unit of time.
  2. Hint 2: It's the amount of time equal to 60 minutes.
  3. Hint 3: A period of time; starts with H.

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

Clues to try first

  • 4-Down, “Take ___ back!”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.
  • 1-Down, “Girl's name that sounds like it could gamble a lot?”, ends in a question mark, which in crosswords usually signals wordplay.

More for October 17, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #382. 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 #381 (October 16, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Guides for road trips”.

October 17, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the October 17, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own October 17, 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/2026-10-17 reveals one answer at a time.