Skip to main content
Mini #384 · Monday

Our Mini Crossword Hints: October 19, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #384, 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: 24-hour periodHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about how we measure time in units of 24 hours.
  2. Hint 2: This word refers to the span from one midnight to the next, often paired with 'night'.
  3. Hint 3: A single rotation of the Earth on its axis, starts with D.
4 Across: Hawaiian island home to HonoluluHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a geography clue about a U.S. state made of islands.
  2. Hint 2: It's the island where the state capital, known for Waikiki Beach, is located.
  3. Hint 3: Hawaiian island home to the capital city, starts with O.
5 Across: "Break a leg," for oneHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about common sayings or expressions people use.
  2. Hint 2: It's a phrase whose meaning isn't literal, like wishing someone luck before a performance.
  3. Hint 3: A common expression with a figurative meaning, starts with I.
6 Across: Overly curiousHint
  1. Hint 1: This describes someone who wants to know everyone else's business.
  2. Hint 2: It's the adjective for someone who's always prying or asking too many questions.
  3. Hint 3: Describes a person who is excessively inquisitive, starts with N.
7 Across: Shed tearsHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about what happens when you're very sad.
  2. Hint 2: It's what your eyes do when emotions overwhelm you.
  3. Hint 3: To produce tears from sadness, starts with C.

Down

1 Down: Flower with white petals and a yellow centerHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a common garden flower, often used in the phrase 'pushing up ___'.
  2. Hint 2: It has a bright yellow center surrounded by white petals, a classic symbol of simplicity.
  3. Hint 3: A simple white-and-yellow flower, starts with D.
2 Down: Sailor's shoutHint
  1. Hint 1: This is something you'd hear shouted on a ship.
  2. Hint 2: It's the classic nautical greeting or exclamation sailors use.
  3. Hint 3: A seafarer's traditional exclamation, starts with A.
3 Down: "Delicious!"Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is what you might say after tasting something great.
  2. Hint 2: It's a short exclamation showing you really enjoyed your food.
  3. Hint 3: An expression of enjoying something tasty, starts with Y.
4 Down: Smell, often unpleasantHint
  1. Hint 1: This relates to your sense of smell.
  2. Hint 2: It's the word for a scent, especially one that's not pleasant.
  3. Hint 3: A general word for a smell, starts with O.
5 Down: Abbr. after a company nameHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a short abbreviation you often see after business names.
  2. Hint 2: It signals that a company is legally incorporated.
  3. Hint 3: An abbreviation meaning incorporated, starts with I.

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 #384 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

  • 3-Down, “Delicious!”, is written as a quotation, so the answer is usually something you could say with the same meaning.
  • 5-Down, “Abbr. after a company name”, is marked as a short form, so expect an abbreviated answer.
  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 4-Across, “Hawaiian island home to Honolulu”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for October 19, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #384. 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 #383 (October 18, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Police officers, informally”.

October 19, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the October 19, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own October 19, 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/2026-10-19 reveals one answer at a time.