NYT Mini Answer for Jan 11, 2025

Happy New Year to all mini crossword enthusiasts!

As we dive into 2025, I want to remind you that solving mini crosswords is not just about filling in the blanks - it's about exercising your brain, challenging yourself, and having fun.

Don't worry if you get stuck; that's what we're here for. This page is dedicated to providing you with helpful hints and guidance to help you conquer those tricky mini crosswords.

Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, we've got you covered. Our hints will give you the nudge you need to figure out that pesky answer or complete that tricky puzzle.

So, take a deep breath, grab a cup of your favorite coffee, and get ready to tackle those mini crosswords with confidence. We'll be here to support you every step of the way.

What's the puzzle you're stuck on? Let us know, and we'll do our best to provide you with a helpful hint. Happy solving!

Possible words for each clue

1-Across. Streak of lightning

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

FLAS BOLT STOR LIGH FLAR

5-Across. Flowers with "tiger" and "trumpet" varieties

Possible 6-letter words for this clue:

TIGERS LILIES ORCHID CARNAT

7-Across. Surface to stretch on

Possible 7-letter words for this clue:

YOGAMAT CARPETS MATRICE LAWNERS TENNIST

8-Across. Condition treated with exposure and response prevention therapy, for short

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

CAT OCD DOG HAP TAP

9-Across. "Rocks," to a bartender

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

ICE YES ROC OLD BAR

10-Across. "Wait, seriously?!"

Possible 7-letter words for this clue:

WAITING WHATTHE SERIOUS WAITING REALLYS

12-Across. Actress with a record number of Oscar nominations (21)

Possible 6-letter words for this clue:

MERYLY STREEP CLARIS AUDIES WINNER

13-Across. Assists

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

AIDS HELP AIDS LEND AIDS

1-Down. Information sets used in machine learning and predictive analytics, collectively

Possible 7-letter words for this clue:

BIGDATA DATASET FEATURE ALGORIT METRICS

2-Down. Portuguese greeting

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

OLA TIA OLA OLA OLA

3-Down. Not infinite

Possible 7-letter words for this clue:

LIMITED FINITED FINITED FINITED FINITED

4-Down. Shows the ropes to

Possible 7-letter words for this clue:

TRAINED TEACHES GUIDING INSTRUC COACHES

5-Down. Scottish bodies of water

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

FIRTH LOCHS SEAFO BAYES WAVES

6-Down. Like some prices and roller coaster drops

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

STEEL HOUSE STEEP SHARP PLATE

7-Down. "That really hurts!"

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

YOW ACH OWZ OOF OOH

11-Down. Prefix with -ceratops

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

CER TRI OPS CER SAT

Based on the hints provided, have you managed to deduce the solution? If you're still unable to come up with an answer, please refer to the options listed below.

Today's Answers Explained

Streak of lightning

The hint "Streak of lightning" is related to the word "BOLT" in English because a bolt of lightning is a sudden, brief flash of electricity that illuminates the sky during a thunderstorm. The term "bolt" in this context refers to the visible streak of electricity that travels through the air.

Flowers with "tiger" and "trumpet" varieties

The hint "Flowers with 'tiger' and 'trumpet' varieties" is related to the word "LILIES" in English because there are varieties of lilies that have these names.

• Tiger lilies are a type of lily known for their bright orange or yellow flowers with dark spots, resembling a tiger's stripes.
• Trumpet lilies are a type of lily characterized by their large, trumpet-shaped flowers that are often fragrant and come in various colors.

This hint is likely referring to these specific varieties of lilies, which are commonly known by these names.

Surface to stretch on

The word "YOGAMAT" in English is related to the hint "Surface to stretch on" because a yoga mat is a type of mat used for yoga practice, providing a smooth surface for individuals to stretch and perform various yoga poses.

Condition treated with exposure and response prevention therapy, for short

The relationship between the hint "Condition treated with exposure and response prevention therapy, for short" and the word "OCD in English" is that OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a common therapy used to treat OCD.

"Rocks," to a bartender

The phrase "Rocks" in the context of ordering a drink, such as a whiskey, is a colloquialism that refers to serving the drink without ice.

When a customer orders a drink "on the rocks," it means they want the drink served over ice cubes.

However, when a customer orders a drink "without ice," they might simply say "no ice" or "straight up."

The phrase "Rocks" is a more casual way of saying "no ice" or "straight up," and it's often used in informal settings, like a bar or a pub.

"Wait, seriously?!"

The phrase "Wait, seriously?!" is an expression of surprise or incredulity, often used to convey that something is unexpected or unbelievable.

The word "WHATTHE" is an abbreviation or a shortened form of the phrase "What the...". This phrase is also used to express surprise, shock, or astonishment, often followed by an expletive or an expression of disbelief.

The relationship between the two is that they both convey a sense of surprise or incredulity, and are often used in informal or colloquial language to express strong emotions.

Actress with a record number of Oscar nominations (21)

The word "STREEP" is the name of the actress Meryl Streep, who holds the record for the most Academy Award (Oscar) nominations with 21.

Assists

The hint "Assists" is related to the word "AIDS" in English because the word "AIDS" can be an acronym for "Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome," but it can also be interpreted as "Assists" in a sports context, particularly in basketball and hockey, where assists refer to the number of passes or plays that a player makes that directly lead to a score.

Information sets used in machine learning and predictive analytics, collectively

The hint "Information sets used in machine learning and predictive analytics, collectively" refers to the word "BIGDATA" in English.

Here's the breakdown:

• B: Big (referring to the large size of the data sets)
• I: Information (referring to the data itself)
• G: Gathered (referring to the process of collecting data)
• D: Data (referring to the actual data)
• A: Analytics (referring to the process of analyzing the data)
• T: Techniques (referring to the methods used in machine learning and predictive analytics)
• A: And (connecting the different aspects of big data)

So, the word "BIGDATA" is an acronym that collectively refers to the information sets used in machine learning and predictive analytics.

Portuguese greeting

The word "OLA" is a Portuguese greeting, which translates to "hello" in English.

Not infinite

The word "LIMITED" in English is related to the hint "Not infinite" because it implies a restriction or a boundary on something. When something is "limited," it means it has a defined or restricted scope, size, or extent, rather than being endless or infinite.

Shows the ropes to

The phrase "Shows the ropes to" is an idiomatic expression that means to instruct or train someone in a particular skill or activity, especially one that is new or unfamiliar to them.

The word "TEACHES" in English is a verb that means to impart knowledge or skills to someone, often through instruction or guidance.

The relationship between the two is that "Shows the ropes to" is a more informal and idiomatic way of saying "TEACHES". Both phrases convey the idea of imparting knowledge or skills to someone, but "Shows the ropes to" is often used in more casual or conversational contexts, while "TEACHES" is a more formal and literal way of expressing the idea.

Scottish bodies of water

The hint "Scottish bodies of water" is related to the word "LOCHS" in English because "lochs" is a Scottish term for bodies of water, particularly large freshwater lakes or pools. In Scotland, the term "loch" is commonly used to refer to these types of bodies of water, such as Loch Ness, which is famous for the legend of the Loch Ness Monster.

Like some prices and roller coaster drops

The word "STEEP" in English has a relationship with the hint "Like some prices and roller coaster drops" because it can be associated with the concept of steepness.

• Some prices can be steep, meaning they are high or expensive.
• Roller coaster drops can be steep, referring to the sharp, sudden descent of a roller coaster.

In both cases, the word "steep" is used to describe something that is sharp or sudden, which is the connection to the hint.

"That really hurts!"

The phrase "That really hurts!" is often associated with the word "YOW" in English.

The word "YOW" is an interjection that is used to express pain or shock. It is often used in the phrase "Yow!" or "Yowch!" to convey that something hurts.

The relationship between the phrase "That really hurts!" and the word "YOW" is that they both express a similar sentiment of pain or discomfort. The phrase is a more formal way of expressing pain, while the word "YOW" is a more informal and exclamatory way of expressing the same sentiment.

Prefix with -ceratops

The relationship between the hint "Prefix with -ceratops" and the word "TRI" in English is that the word "TRICERATOPS" is formed by prefixing "-ceratops" to "TRI".