Mini #10 — the answers

The Mini crossword from September 11, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Iditarod command — MUSH
2. 5. "___ when?" — SINCE
3. 6. "Down ___" (Australia) — UNDER
4. 7. Golf outing — ROUND
5. 8. Guitar neck ridge — FRET

Down

1. 1. Key type, in music — MINOR
2. 2. Excessive — UNDUE
3. 3. Bloodhound’s lead — SCENT
4. 4. Group of elephants — HERD
5. 5. Catch a wave — SURF

The walkthrough

One way through: start at 1-Across, then let each answer feed the words it crosses — the slot with the most letters already showing is the one to fill next.

1. 1-Across, “Iditarod command” — nothing given yet: MUSH.
2. 1-Down, “Key type, in music” — M···· from the crossings: MINOR.
3. 5-Across, “"___ when?"” — ·I··· from the crossings: SINCE.
4. 2-Down, “Excessive” — UN··· from the crossings: UNDUE.
5. 6-Across, “"Down ___" (Australia)” — ·ND·· from the crossings: UNDER.
6. 3-Down, “Bloodhound’s lead” — SCE·· from the crossings: SCENT.
7. 7-Across, “Golf outing” — ·OUN· from the crossings: ROUND.
8. 4-Down, “Group of elephants” — already spelled out by its crossings: HERD.
9. 8-Across, “Guitar neck ridge” — ·RET from the crossings: FRET.
10. 5-Down, “Catch a wave” — already spelled out by its crossings: SURF.

The answer

Previous: Mini #9 (Thu, Sep 10) · Next: Mini #11 (Sat, Sep 12)

About Mini

Mini is Noggin’s five-by-five crossword, on the second shelf: one grid a day against the clock, outside the daily line-up. How to play Mini, or play today’s.