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The May 4, 2025, NYT Mini Crossword hinges on a neat reversal: 8-Across is PUPILS, and 9-Across is SLIPUP—the same letters read backward. Here are all the across and down answers.
Why PUPILS becomes SLIPUP
The clue for 8-Across, “School students,” gives PUPILS. The clue for 9-Across is “Make a mistake … or 8-Across backward.” SLIPUP means making a mistake, and reversing its letters spells PUPILS. The shared letters make the two neighboring answers a compact piece of wordplay.
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Across answers
| Clue number | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Across | Wines Napa Valley is renowned for, informally | CABS |
| 5-Across | “Right away!” | ATONCE |
| 8-Across | School students | PUPILS |
| 9-Across | Make a mistake … or 8-Across backward | SLIPUP |
| 10-Across | Many a new driver | TEEN |
Down answers
| Clue number | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Down | Items of clothing that may be worn backward | CAPS |
| 2-Down | ___ Gawande | ATUL |
| 3-Down | Hasbro toy with a pull handle and twistable crank | BOPIT |
| 4-Down | Criticize snarkily, with “at” | SNIPE |
| 6-Down | “You’re reading it” | CLUE |
| 7-Down | Channel with “2” and “U” spinoffs | ESPN |
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