Mini #39 — the answers

The Mini crossword from October 10, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Boy — LAD
2. 4. Snow bit — FLAKE
3. 6. Red-breasted bird — ROBIN
4. 7. Happening — EVENT
5. 8. Snakelike fish — EEL

Down

1. 1. Sticker on a jar — LABEL
2. 2. Similar — AKIN
3. 3. Fender flaw — DENT
4. 4. No charge — FREE
5. 5. Adore — LOVE

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, “Boy” — nothing given yet: LAD.
2. 1-Down, “Sticker on a jar” — L···· from the crossings: LABEL.
3. 4-Across, “Snow bit” — ··A·· from the crossings: FLAKE.
4. 2-Down, “Similar” — AK·· from the crossings: AKIN.
5. 6-Across, “Red-breasted bird” — ··BI· from the crossings: ROBIN.
6. 3-Down, “Fender flaw” — DEN· from the crossings: DENT.
7. 7-Across, “Happening” — ··ENT from the crossings: EVENT.
8. 4-Down, “No charge” — FRE· from the crossings: FREE.
9. 5-Down, “Adore” — LOV· from the crossings: LOVE.
10. 8-Across, “Snakelike fish” — already spelled out by its crossings: EEL.

The answer

Previous: Mini #38 (Fri, Oct 9) · Next: Mini #40 (Sun, Oct 11)

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.