NYT Mini Answer for May 17, 2025

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You're doing great, and don't give up - every puzzle is a challenge, but that's what makes it fun. You're not alone in this mini crossword adventure. Many people enjoy these puzzles, and it's a great way to exercise your brain and learn new things.

If you're stuck, don't worry. We're here to help. This page will provide you with hints and guidance to get you back on track. From subtle clues to clever wordplay, we'll give you the nudge you need to fill in those tricky squares.

So, take a deep breath, relax, and remember that it's okay to ask for help. You got this! With a little patience and persistence, you'll be solving mini crosswords like a pro in no time.

Let's get started. What's the puzzle you're working on? Share the clue that's got you stumped, and we'll do our best to provide a helpful hint.

Possible words for each clue

1-Across. "Link in ___" (promotional catchphrase on social media)

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

PIN BIO LIK INK TAG

4-Across. They're ground in a coffee grinder

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

CHOPS BEANS GROUN PEAHS CHUNK

6-Across. Bike riders' headwear

Possible 7-letter words for this clue:

HELMETS HEADSET CYCLIST CAPTURE

8-Across. Variety of tomato whose name is also a meat

Possible 9-letter words for this clue:

BEEFSTEAK BRITANNIA BUTCHERED

10-Across. Shoe spec that describes this puzzle?

Possible 9-letter words for this clue:

EXTRAWIDE SIZINGCOD WIDTHMEAS SHOEMODEL WIDTHRANG

11-Across. "Cha-ching, nothin' to it!"

Possible 9-letter words for this clue:

CASHINHAN EASYMONEY FINANCIAL CASHFLOWE RECEIVING

1-Down. Church spot where bats hang out

Possible 6-letter words for this clue:

SPOUTS BELFRY STEEPS NICHES SPACER

2-Down. The first three words of "Green Eggs and Ham," straight from the narrator

Possible 6-letter words for this clue:

IAMSAM CANADA GREENE SAMUEL

3-Down. Boxing punch combo

Possible 6-letter words for this clue:

JABBER ONETWO HOOKIN PUNCHE COMBAT

4-Down. Purple slices in a salad

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

RADIS BEETS GRAPE PLUMS EGGPL

5-Down. Oktoberfest glass

Possible 5-letter words for this clue:

STEIN

6-Down. Prefix with decimal, in coding

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

BYTE HEXA INTS BITS CODE

7-Down. One-named hit singer with 1985's "Smooth Operator"

Possible 4-letter words for this clue:

SING SADE ARTS SOUL

8-Down. Spelling ___

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

CAT BEE DOG FOX OWL

9-Down. Paper with the answers

Possible 3-letter words for this clue:

ANS KEY TAB

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

"Link in ___" (promotional catchphrase on social media)

The relationship between the hint "Link in ___" and the word "BIO in English" is that "BIO" is an abbreviation for "Biography" in English.

In the context of social media, "Link in bio" is a common promotional catchphrase used to encourage users to click on a link provided in a person's or brand's bio section on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter.

They're ground in a coffee grinder

The relationship between the hint "They're ground in a coffee grinder" and the word "BEANS" in English is that "beans" refers to coffee beans, which are typically ground in a coffee grinder to make coffee.

Bike riders' headwear

The word "HELMETS" in English is related to the hint "Bike riders' headwear" because helmets are a type of protective headgear that bike riders wear to prevent head injuries while riding.

Variety of tomato whose name is also a meat

The hint "Variety of tomato whose name is also a meat" is related to the word "BEEFSTEAK" in English because a Beefsteak is a type of tomato, and it is also a type of cut of beef.

Shoe spec that describes this puzzle?

The word "EXTRAWIDE" in English is related to the hint "Shoe spec that describes this puzzle?" because "EXTRAWIDE" is a shoe specification that refers to a wider width of a shoe, often used to describe shoes that are designed to fit people with wider feet.

"Cha-ching, nothin' to it!"

The phrase "Cha-ching, nothin' to it!" is a colloquial expression often used to convey that something is easy to do or that it's a simple and effortless process.

The word "EASYMONEY" in English is an idiomatic expression that refers to money or wealth that is easily obtained, often with little effort or hard work.

The relationship between the two is that the phrase "Cha-ching, nothin' to it!" is often used to describe situations where one can easily make money or obtain wealth, which is the core meaning of the word "EASYMONEY".

Church spot where bats hang out

The word "BELFRY" is related to the hint "Church spot where bats hang out" because a belfry is a structure on a church that houses the bells. In some cases, bats may roost or hang out in the belfry of a church, especially if it has a suitable environment with dark spaces and a stable temperature.

The first three words of "Green Eggs and Ham," straight from the narrator

The first three words of "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss are "I do not like."

Boxing punch combo

The hint "Boxing punch combo" is related to the word "ONETWO" in English because in a boxing match, the numbers one and two are often used to describe a combination of punches, specifically a jab (one) followed by a cross (two).

Purple slices in a salad

The hint "Purple slices in a salad" is related to the word "BEETS" in English because beets are a type of root vegetable that are often sliced and added to salads. They are typically purple in color, which matches the description in the hint.

Oktoberfest glass

The word "STEIN" in English is related to the hint "Oktoberfest glass" because a traditional Oktoberfest glass is often referred to as a "Stein" in English.

In German, the word for a type of beer mug or glass is "Stein," which is derived from the German word for "stone." This refers to the fact that the glass is often made of heavy, stone-like material.

In English, the term "Stein" has become synonymous with a traditional German beer glass, often used during Oktoberfest celebrations.

Prefix with decimal, in coding

The hint "Prefix with decimal, in coding" is related to the word "HEXA" because it is a prefix for hexadecimal, a base-16 number system used in coding.

One-named hit singer with 1985's "Smooth Operator"

The relationship between the hint "One-named hit singer with 1985's "Smooth Operator"" and the word "SADE in English" is that the word "SADE" is the name of the singer, and when pronounced in English, it sounds like the word "shade", but in this context, it is referring to the singer's name.

Spelling ___

The relationship between the hint "Spelling ___" and the word "BEE in English" is that the word "BEE" is a homophone for the word "B" as in the letter "B" in the English alphabet, and the word "B" is the first letter of the word "BEE".

Paper with the answers

The hint "Paper with the answers" is related to the word "KEY" in English because a key is often used to unlock a door or a lock, but in the context of a test or an exam, a key is also a paper that contains the answers to the questions. This is often referred to as a "key" or a "key sheet" and is used to check the answers provided by the test-taker.