This article discusses the New York Times Mini Crossword puzzle for January 21, 2025, focusing on a specific clue that the author found challenging. The clue, “Ones working with meters and feet,” led the author to consider professions that involve physical measurement, such as architects and designers. However, the actual answer was “poets,” referring to the metrical structure and rhythm in poetry, which utilize units called “meters” and “feet.” This misdirection highlights the wordplay often employed in crossword puzzles.
The article provides the complete set of clues and answers for the January 21, 2025 Mini Crossword, listing both the Across and Down clues with their corresponding solutions. This allows readers to check their own answers or to solve the puzzle retroactively. The Across clues included “Kinda wet” (DAMP), “Standoffish” (ALOOF), “Creature on a lifeboat with Pi, in ‘Life of Pi'” (TIGER), “Less than 90°” (ACUTE), and “What ___ is new?” (ELSE). The Down clues included “What hasn’t been processed if it’s raw” (DATA), “Character who climbs through the looking glass” (ALICE), “Tycoon” (MOGUL), the aforementioned “Ones working with meters and feet” (POETS), and “Complimentary” (FREE).
Beyond providing the solutions, the author offers guidance on accessing other New York Times puzzles. The article directs readers to CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page for help with daily puzzles like Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition, and Strands. It also clarifies that while the current day’s Mini Crossword is free to play, access to older puzzles requires a subscription to the New York Times Games section. This information is useful for puzzle enthusiasts seeking further challenges beyond the daily offerings.
The article then expands on strategies for solving the Mini Crossword, offering tips and tricks to enhance the reader’s puzzling skills. While these strategies aren’t explicitly detailed in the provided text, the context suggests that the linked resources likely cover common crossword-solving techniques. These might include looking for fill-in-the-blank clues, identifying common abbreviations, and working from the shorter words to the longer ones. The inclusion of this directional information suggests a broader purpose of helping readers become more proficient at solving crosswords.
Furthermore, the article emphasizes the breadth of the New York Times Games collection. While focusing on the Mini Crossword, it acknowledges the popularity of other games like Wordle, Connections, and Strands. This serves as a reminder of the diverse range of puzzles available and potentially encourages readers to explore other options within the Times’ games portfolio. By highlighting the various offerings, the article positions the New York Times Games section as a comprehensive source of entertainment for puzzle enthusiasts.
Finally, the inclusion of embedded code suggests the integration of tracking tools, likely for analyzing article readership and potentially for targeted advertising. While not directly related to the crossword content, this technical element offers insight into the digital infrastructure supporting the article’s distribution and the publisher’s broader online strategy. This behind-the-scenes element illustrates the complexities of modern online publishing and the various components involved in delivering content to readers.
