The New York Times Mini Crossword for Friday, September 11, 2026, offers a compact but clever puzzle that blends emoji wordplay, geography, pop culture, and a classic rock lyric. Below, find the full list of answers for both across and down clues, along with explanations to help you solve or confirm your grid.
Across Clues and Answers
- 1A: Picture puzzle where 👁️ + ❤️ + 🐑 means “I love you” — REBUS
- 6A: Its license plates read “Famous Potatoes” — IDAHO
- 7A: After-dinner coffee order — DECAF
- 8A: Distinctive feature of an aardvark — SNOUT
- 9A: Long-running show with a cold open, familiarly — SNL
Down Clues and Answers
- 1D: Frees (of) — RIDS
- 2D: Utopian places — EDENS
- 3D: “I’ll bring home the turkey if you bring home the ___” (Weezer lyric) — BACON
- 4D: Big name in moving trucks — UHAUL
- 5D: Word before ware or ball — SOFT
This five-by-five grid starts with a rebus that uses emojis to spell out “I love you,” then moves through state trivia (Idaho’s potato plates), coffee habits, animal anatomy, and a television format. The down clues add literary references, a specific Weezer lyric, brand recognition, and compound words. With only ten clues, the puzzle still demands sharp recall and flexible thinking.
Check back tomorrow for a new set of clues and answers from the NYT Mini Crossword.
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