Today's NYT Mini Crossword Answer on May 22, 2025

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Possible words for each clue

1-Across. Part of a fleet

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

SHIP BOAT PORT SHIP FLEE

5-Across. Answer to Gollum's riddle in "The Hobbit," which starts "This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers"

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

TIME AGES FIRE EATS FISH

6-Across. "See ya!"

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE LATER FAREW GOODB CHEER

7-Across. Second-most popular girl's name of the 2020s, after Olivia

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

EMMA

8-Across. Not keeping secrets

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

OPEN TALK TELL LEAK SHAR

1-Down. Sticker on an envelope

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE STAMP LABEL SEALS

2-Down. "I'd like another card," in blackjack

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE HITME DEALT BLACK CARDS

3-Down. "Uhh, that is to say ..."

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

HOUSE MEANS IMEAN THATS SAYIT

4-Down. The "p" of m.p.h.

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

PER MPS HOP MOP PUP

6-Down. Name taken by the new pope

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

PAP LEO FRA

Based on the hints provided, have you managed to deduce the solution? If you're still struggling, please refer to the answers listed below.

Today's Answers Explained

Part of a fleet

The word "SHIP" in English is related to the hint "Part of a fleet" because a ship is a type of vessel that is often part of a fleet, which is a group of ships that work together or are operated by the same organization.

Answer to Gollum's riddle in "The Hobbit," which starts "This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers"

The answer to Gollum's riddle in "The Hobbit" is "Time".

The riddle starts with "This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Slays king, ruins town, and beats high mountain down."

The answer is "Time" because it devours all things (past, present, and future), gnaws iron (rust), bites steel (corrosion), slays kings (through the passage of time), ruins towns (through decay and neglect), and beats high mountains down (through erosion).

"See ya!"

The phrase "See ya!" is an informal way of saying "LATER" in English. It is a colloquial expression used to bid farewell or to indicate that one will see the other person again in the future.

Second-most popular girl's name of the 2020s, after Olivia

The word "EMMA" is related to the hint "Second-most popular girl's name of the 2020s, after Olivia" because Emma was indeed the second-most popular girl's name in the 2020s in the English-speaking world, following Olivia.

Not keeping secrets

The hint "Not keeping secrets" is related to the word "OPEN" in English because when something is open, it implies that it is not closed or hidden, and therefore, its contents or information are not being kept secret.

Sticker on an envelope

The relationship between the hint "Sticker on an envelope" and the word "STAMP in English" is that a sticker on an envelope is typically a postage stamp, which is used to pay for the postage to send a letter or package.

"I'd like another card," in blackjack

The phrase "I'd like another card" in blackjack is related to the word "HIT" in English.

In blackjack, when a player wants to receive another card from the dealer, they typically say "I'd like another card" or simply "hit." This is because the action of receiving another card is called a "hit" in the game.

The word "HIT" is also a common abbreviation for "HIT ME," which is a colloquialism that means "give me another card." This phrase is often used in informal settings, such as in movies or TV shows, to convey the idea of receiving another card in blackjack.

"Uhh, that is to say ..."

The phrase "Uhh, that is to say..." is a common idiomatic expression used in English to indicate a pause or hesitation before clarifying or rephrasing a statement.

The word "IMEAN" is an abbreviation of the phrase "I mean," which is a common way to express a clarification or rephrasing of a statement.

The relationship between the two is that they both serve as a way to indicate a pause or hesitation before providing more information or clarification. The phrase "Uhh, that is to say..." is a more formal or polite way to express this, while "I mean" is a more informal and common way to do so.

The "p" of m.p.h.

The hint "The 'p' of m.p.h." refers to the word "miles per hour" (m.p.h.), where "per" is a preposition indicating a rate or ratio.

In this context, the word "per" is related to the word "PER" in English, which is an abbreviation for "per" and is often used in business and financial contexts to indicate a rate or ratio, such as "price per unit" or "cost per item".

Name taken by the new pope

The hint "Name taken by the new pope" is related to the word "LEO in English" because the name "Leo" has been taken by several popes throughout history.

In English, the name "Leo" is derived from the Latin word "leo," meaning lion. However, in the context of the papacy, the name "Leo" is often associated with the Latin word "leo," which is also the Latin word for lion, but also a reference to the fourth-century Pope Leo I, also known as Leo the Great, who was a prominent figure in the early Christian Church.

The name "Leo" has been taken by a total of 13 popes throughout history, with the most recent being Pope Leo XIII, who served from 1878 to 1903.