Big mix-up

Latest answer — August 14, 2026

2 Down

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Clue decoded

SNAFU is an acronym for “situation normal: all fouled up,” and it has come to mean a chaotic mistake or big mix-up. The clue uses its modern noun sense.

Clue type:
Abbreviation
A chaotic scene showing a major mix-up.

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Friday, August 14, 2026 appearance

Tap a square to reveal a letter.

Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1"Naughty, naughty"
  2. 4Actress Milano of "Who's the Boss?"
  3. 10Game with Wild Draw Four cards
  4. 11Deadly
  5. 12Cutie pie who grills sausages and steaks in 21-Across?
  6. 14Off over yonder
  7. 15A.C.C. school in Charlottesville
  8. 16Washing machine setting at a college in 21-Across?
  9. 20Knight's horse
  10. 21Country known for shortening everyday words ... as hinted at in 12- and 16-Across?
  11. 25"You know the ___!"
  12. 26Protein-rich ramen topper
  13. 27Building add-on
  14. 28Ghost sound

Down

  1. 1Low-pitched brass instrument
  2. 2Big mix-up
  3. 3Muslim's holy book, in one spelling
  4. 4Actress Wong
  5. 5Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Sunisa ___
  6. 6Since Jan. 1, on pay stubs
  7. 7"Want me to leave?"
  8. 8Rash soother
  9. 9Penne ___ vodka
  10. 13Prickly part of a brush
  11. 17PC command for "cut"
  12. 18Vote in favor
  13. 19One photographed on the red carpet, informally
  14. 21Best-selling children's book "___ Twist, Scientist"
  15. 22Still-life vessel
  16. 23Pride, greed or envy
  17. 24Prior to now

Crossword clues, hints, and answers

Across

  1. 1. "Naughty, naughty" — Answer: TSK. Hint: It’s the tiny tongue-clicking sound used to show disapproval. 😒
  2. 4. Actress Milano of "Who's the Boss?" — Answer: ALYSSA. Hint: You may remember her as Samantha Micelli, the daughter in this classic sitcom. 📺
  3. 10. Game with Wild Draw Four cards — Answer: UNO. Hint: This fast-paced card game lets you change colors and make the next player draw four—ouch! 🃏
  4. 11. Deadly — Answer: LETHAL. Hint: Think of a serious synonym for something capable of causing death ☠️
  5. 12. Cutie pie who grills sausages and steaks in 21-Across? — Answer: BARBIEDOLL. Hint: Picture a glamorous toy hostess tending the backyard barbecue. 🍔
  6. 14. Off over yonder — Answer: AFAR. Hint: Think of a place that’s quite far away from here. 🌄
  7. 15. A.C.C. school in Charlottesville — Answer: UVA. Hint: Think of the University of Virginia, whose Cavaliers compete in the ACC. 🏀
  8. 16. Washing machine setting at a college in 21-Across? — Answer: UNICYCLE. Hint: Think of a campus abbreviation paired with what a washer does during its spin. 🎓
  9. 20. Knight's horse — Answer: STEED. Hint: This trusty companion gallops alongside the brave in tales of chivalry! 🐴
  10. 21. Country known for shortening everyday words ... as hinted at in 12- and 16-Across? — Answer: AUSTRALIA. Hint: Think of a southern-hemisphere nation whose informal speech loves turning long words into snappy abbreviations. 🗣️
  11. 25. "You know the ___!" — Answer: DRILL. Hint: It’s the familiar routine you’re expected to know by heart. 🛠️
  12. 26. Protein-rich ramen topper — Answer: EGG. Hint: Crack this into your steaming noodles for extra protein and richness 🍜
  13. 27. Building add-on — Answer: ANNEX. Hint: A new wing added to an existing structure might be this. 🏗️
  14. 28. Ghost sound — Answer: BOO. Hint: A spooky exclamation you might hear during a playful scare 👻

Down

  1. 1. Low-pitched brass instrument — Answer: TUBA. Hint: This deep-voiced brass instrument often anchors the lowest notes in an ensemble. 🎺
  2. 2. Big mix-up — Answer: SNAFU. Hint: A chaotic situation where everything seems to go wrong. 😵
  3. 3. Muslim's holy book, in one spelling — Answer: KORAN. Hint: The sacred scripture of Islam appears here in a common alternate spelling 📖
  4. 4. Actress Wong — Answer: ALI. Hint: This comedian-actress is known for her sharp stand-up specials and Netflix fame. 🎤
  5. 5. Olympic gymnastics gold medalist Sunisa ___ — Answer: LEE. Hint: This Olympic all-around champion helped the U.S. shine in Tokyo. 🥇
  6. 6. Since Jan. 1, on pay stubs — Answer: YTD. Hint: Look for the abbreviation showing your earnings accumulated from the start of the year 📅
  7. 7. "Want me to leave?" — Answer: SHOULDIGO. Hint: A question asking whether your departure would be preferable. 🚪
  8. 8. Rash soother — Answer: SALVE. Hint: Think of a gentle ointment that calms irritated skin. 🧴
  9. 9. Penne ___ vodka — Answer: ALLA. Hint: A classic Italian phrase that means “in the style of” this sauce pairing 🍝
  10. 13. Prickly part of a brush — Answer: BRISTLE. Hint: It’s the stiff, scratchy fiber that does the scrubbing on a brush. 🧹
  11. 17. PC command for "cut" — Answer: CTRLX. Hint: This keyboard shortcut removes selected text and places it on your clipboard—your trusty scissors command. ✂️
  12. 18. Vote in favor — Answer: YEA. Hint: Show your support when the motion comes to a vote 👍
  13. 19. One photographed on the red carpet, informally — Answer: CELEB. Hint: A famous person posing at a premiere might be called this casually 📸
  14. 21. Best-selling children's book "___ Twist, Scientist" — Answer: ADA. Hint: This curious young scientist shares her name with a pioneering 19th-century mathematician and programmer. 🔬
  15. 22. Still-life vessel — Answer: URN. Hint: This decorative container often appears beside fruit or flowers in a painting. 🏺
  16. 23. Pride, greed or envy — Answer: SIN. Hint: It’s one of the notorious seven deadly vices 😈
  17. 24. Prior to now — Answer: AGO. Hint: Think of a time before the present moment. ⏳

Recent NYT Midi Answers

The last 7 days of solutions

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The answer to “Big mix-up” in the New York Times Midi crossword is SNAFU — a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 14, 2026, a Friday puzzle, at 2-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“Big mix-up” answer

SNAFU (5 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is SNAFU.

When else has “Big mix-up” appeared?

New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

August 14, 2026 (most recent) → SNAFU. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

More clues from the NYT Midi Crossword on August 14, 2026

Stuck elsewhere in the grid? Here are some of the crossing and nearby clues from the same puzzle — tap any for its answer and explanation.

Want every clue in one place? The full New York Times Midi answer list for August 14, 2026 is on that day's grid page, and today's live NYT Midi answers are always one tap from the today page.

About the NYT Midi Crossword

The New York Times Midi is the mid-size daily puzzle between the Mini and the full crossword — typically a 7×7 grid that still rewards quick pattern recognition. Because the Midi is compact, one stubborn clue can jam the whole solve, which is why a confirmed answer and a short explanation help most when you're stuck on a single square.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Big mix-up”?

The answer is SNAFU, a 5-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 14, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Big mix-up”?

5 letters: SNAFU.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 14, 2026 (a Friday puzzle), at 2-Down.

Can “Big mix-up” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Midi answers?

The full grid for August 14, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

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