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Stuck on the April 25, 2025, NYT Mini? The trickiest entries include EXGOV for a former governor and ITA, which completes “Don’t call it a comeback!” Try the clue explanations below before opening the full answer key.
Hints for the April 25 Mini
- 1-Across: Complete the familiar phrase about March.
- 5-Across: What someone does to send a text message.
- 7-Across: The common name for growth found in pond water.
- 8-Across: A word for a very small amount.
- 9-Across: An animal doctor, sometimes jokingly called a “dogtor.”
- 1-Down: The missing words in “Don’t call ___ comeback!”
- 2-Down: A counter or department in a grocery store.
- 3-Down: A short way to refer to someone who used to be a governor.
- 4-Down: The listed answer is a word meaning a state or condition; the clue’s letter-changing instruction is unclear.
- 6-Down: What players try to claim in musical chairs.
Full clue-and-answer key
Spoilers below: The complete answers and explanations follow.
Across
| Number | Clue | Answer | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Beware the ___ of March” | IDES | Completes the familiar expression “Ides of March.” |
| 5 | Sends a message | TEXTS | “Texts” is the present-tense verb for sending a text message. |
| 7 | Pond scum | ALGAE | Algae is a common description for growth in pond water. |
| 8 | Teeny-tiny bit | IOTA | An iota is a very small amount. |
| 9 | Doctor who might more aptly be called a “dogtor” | VET | A veterinarian treats animals. |
Down
| Number | Clue | Answer | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Don’t call ___ comeback!” | ITA | The phrase reads “Don’t call it a comeback!” |
| 2 | Supermarket section | DELI | A deli is a common supermarket department. |
| 3 | Arnold Schwarzenegger or Chris Christie, e.g., for short | EXGOV | Both are former governors; EXGOV abbreviates “ex-governor.” |
| 4 | 5-Across or 8-Across, if you change the T’s in this answer | STATE | The listed answer is STATE, but the clue’s instruction about changing the T’s is not clearly explained in the available answer pages. Its intended wordplay remains unresolved. |
| 6 | Musical chairs need | SEAT | Players compete to occupy a seat when the music stops. |
What to know about the ambiguous clue
The April 25 answer pages list STATE for 4-Down, but do not make clear how changing the T’s in the 5-Across or 8-Across answer produces the clue’s stated connection. The answer can be reported, but the exact wordplay should not be treated as settled.
The clue-and-answer set is reported by Parade; the clue prompts also appear in Try Hard Guides, and a third-party grid archive is available at NYTGames.net. These are third-party sources, not an official New York Times archive or constructor explanation.
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