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Mini #388 · Friday

Our Mini Crossword Hints: October 23, 2026

Step-by-step hints for Mini #388, 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: In the middle ofHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about position relative to other things.
  2. Hint 2: It's a word meaning surrounded by or in the center of a group of things.
  3. Hint 3: This means 'in the middle of' and starts with A.
5 Across: Italian luxury fashion houseHint
  1. Hint 1: This is a famous name in high-end clothing and accessories.
  2. Hint 2: Think of a designer brand often seen on handbags and shoes, associated with Milan.
  3. Hint 3: This Italian luxury fashion house starts with P.
6 Across: Carrying a weaponHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about someone prepared for combat.
  2. Hint 2: This describes a person or group equipped with weapons, ready for battle.
  3. Hint 3: This means 'carrying a weapon' and starts with A.
7 Across: Deep unconscious statesHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about medical states where a person is unresponsive.
  2. Hint 2: This refers to deep sleep-like states often caused by injury or illness.
  3. Hint 3: This means 'deep unconscious states' and starts with C.
8 Across: "'___ the night before Christmas..."Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is the opening phrase of a beloved holiday poem.
  2. Hint 2: It's an old-fashioned way of saying 'it was,' famously used to start a Christmas poem.
  3. Hint 3: This word means 'it was' in old English style and starts with T.

Down

1 Down: Weapon shot from a bowHint
  1. Hint 1: Think of archery equipment.
  2. Hint 2: This is the projectile you shoot from a bow, often with feathers at one end.
  3. Hint 3: This weapon is shot from a bow and starts with A.
2 Down: "___ Mia!" (ABBA musical)Hint
  1. Hint 1: This is the first word in the title of a famous ABBA-based musical.
  2. Hint 2: It's an affectionate term for a mother, also used in a well-known stage show's title.
  3. Hint 3: This word is a playful term for 'mother' and starts with M.
3 Down: Bright thoughtsHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about flashes of inspiration.
  2. Hint 2: These are clever thoughts or concepts that pop into your mind.
  3. Hint 3: This means 'bright thoughts' and starts with I.
4 Down: FathersHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about family members on the male side.
  2. Hint 2: This is a casual term for male parents.
  3. Hint 3: This word means 'fathers' and starts with D.
5 Down: Formal agreement between nationsHint
  1. Hint 1: Think about international relations.
  2. Hint 2: This is a formal deal or treaty between countries.
  3. Hint 3: This means 'formal agreement between nations' and starts with P.

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

Clues to try first

  • 8-Across, “'___ the night before Christmas...”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.
  • 2-Down, “‘___ Mia!’ (ABBA musical)”, is a fill-in-the-blank: say the phrase out loud and the missing word often jumps out.
  • Some clues lean on a name or title, such as 8-Across, “'___ the night before Christmas...” and 2-Down, “‘___ Mia!’ (ABBA musical)”; if one is unfamiliar, work its crossing answers first.

More for October 23, 2026

Rather see the grid first? Play Mini #388. 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 #387 (October 22, 2026), opens with 1-Across, “Without any hair on top”.

October 23, 2026 Mini Crossword hints FAQ

Are these hints for the October 23, 2026 Mini Crossword?
Yes. Every clue on this page is from our own October 23, 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/2026-10-23 reveals one answer at a time.