Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThe Saturday, December 14, 2024 NYT Mini has eight Across and eight Down clues. Only two answers can be confirmed from the archived guides we checked: MAS at 1A and SILKS at 4A. The rest of the grid is listed below with its clue, and we do not guess at letters we cannot verify.
Which puzzle this is
The date points to the Mini, the small 5-by-5 daily puzzle, from Saturday, December 14, 2024. Do not confuse it with the full-size NYT crossword published the same day. That puzzle was credited to Owen Bergstein and uses a 15-by-15 grid, according to XWord Info’s archive entry for that date. If you are looking for the Mini, the clue list below is the one that applies.
Confirmed answers
The Try Hard Guides archive for this date lists the full clue set. Opening the clue pages directly exposes only two answers, because the remaining answer letters sit behind interactive reveal tiles.
- 1 Across (MAS): “Live ___,” the longtime Taco Bell slogan.
- 4 Across (SILKS): Jockeys’ garb.
Full clue list and answer status
The table shows every clue from the archived guide. Answers are shown only where they were directly visible in the sources reviewed.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
| Entry | Clue | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | Live ___ (longtime Taco Bell slogan) | MAS |
| 4A | Jockeys’ garb | SILKS |
| 6A | “Abso-freakin’-lutely!” | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 8A | Antlered animal at Yellowstone National Park | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 9A | Twenty-sided item for tabletop games | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 10A | Bordeaux or Burgundy | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 12A | Like a smooth operator | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 13A | Green additive to the Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 1D | Chewy chocolate bite in a yellow box | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 2D | 100% | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 3D | Take a great leap of faith, say | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 4D | Tennis great Monica with a palindromic surname | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 5D | River that meanders through Paris | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 6D | “___ Majesty,” hidden track on the Beatles’ Abbey Road | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 7D | “You understand?” | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
| 11D | Path | Not confirmed in the sources reviewed |
Why some answers are missing
The archive page shows the complete clue inventory, but the answer letters are hidden behind reveal tiles that did not expose text in the pages we could open. A second answer guide for the same date appeared in search results, reporting the same eight-Across, eight-Down structure, but its answer content could not be retrieved. Rather than fill the grid from clue wording alone, which often produces plausible but wrong entries, we have left those cells unconfirmed.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Getting unstuck without a full spoiler
If you only need one entry, use the hints page linked from the Try Hard Guides archive before opening the answer. It is a less revealing option than the full grid. Solving the Mini in NYT Games, where the puzzle is hosted, lets you check individual letters as you go.
The clue list on this page is the verified inventory for December 14, 2024. Answers for the remaining entries should be confirmed against the NYT Games archive before you rely on them.
Puzzle archives are sometimes revised, so if the clues here differ from the version you see, trust the official puzzle page.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
Note: “not confirmed” in the table means no answer for that entry was visible in the sources reviewed, not that the entry is wrong.
The Mini is short, so most solvers finish it in a few minutes once the first answers anchor the grid.
Quick Recap
Best Value
“
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
