Mini #50 — the answers

The Mini crossword from October 21, 2026: a 5×5 grid, 5 across and 5 down, filled in the order the crossings give it away.

The clues

Across

1. 1. Fireplace leftover — ASH
2. 4. Was able to — COULD
3. 7. Gossip — RUMOR
4. 8. Rub out — ERASE
5. 9. Fresh — NEW

Down

1. 1. Farm unit — ACRE
2. 2. Lemony — SOUR
3. 3. Person — HUMAN
4. 5. Misplace — LOSE
5. 6. Sketched — DREW

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, “Fireplace leftover” — nothing given yet: ASH.
2. 1-Down, “Farm unit” — A··· from the crossings: ACRE.
3. 4-Across, “Was able to” — C···· from the crossings: COULD.
4. 2-Down, “Lemony” — SO·· from the crossings: SOUR.
5. 7-Across, “Gossip” — RU··· from the crossings: RUMOR.
6. 3-Down, “Person” — HUM·· from the crossings: HUMAN.
7. 8-Across, “Rub out” — ERA·· from the crossings: ERASE.
8. 5-Down, “Misplace” — LOS· from the crossings: LOSE.
9. 6-Down, “Sketched” — DRE· from the crossings: DREW.
10. 9-Across, “Fresh” — already spelled out by its crossings: NEW.

The answer

Previous: Mini #49 (Tue, Oct 20) · Next: Mini #51 (Thu, Oct 22) · All Mini solutions

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.