Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"
Editorially verified for the Aug 16, 2026
11 Across
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Clue explained
Fire is hot, and a person who is “on fire” is performing exceptionally well or intensely. The quotation marks flag the idiomatic second sense as a playful pairing.
- Clue type:
- Pun or wordplay
NYT Midi Crossword
This clue's Sunday, August 16, 2026 appearance
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The answer to “Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"” in the New York Times Midi crossword is HOT — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 16, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 11-Across. 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.
“Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"” answer
HOT (3 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 HOT.
What does HOT mean?
Reading the plain dictionary sense of HOT is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.
(adjective)
- having a high degree of heat or a high temperature
- (of food) containing or consisting of pungent spices or peppers which produce a burning sensation when tasted
- filled with passionate excitement, anger, or other strong emotion
When else has “Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"” 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 16, 2026 (most recent) → HOT. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the answer to “Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"”?
The answer is HOT, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 16, 2026.
How many letters is the answer to “Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"”?
3 letters: HOT.
When did this clue appear?
Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 16, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 11-Across.
Can “Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"” 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 16, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.
New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.
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