What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme

Editorially verified for the Aug 16, 2026

5 Down

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A small circus car with several clowns emerging from it

Clue explained

A clown car is the famously tiny vehicle from which a seemingly impossible number of clowns emerge, so a pair of jokers could be found in its back. It also hints at the puzzle’s circus-themed entries, including HONKS and PIE.

Clue type:
Pun or wordplay

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Sunday, August 16, 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. 1Tree that produces acorns
  2. 4Bio or chem, e.g.
  3. 7Gooey vegetable in bhindi masala
  4. 8Stale
  5. 9Like the tops of ceiling fan blades, often
  6. 10Animal with a pouch, for short
  7. 11Like fire ... or someone who is "on fire"
  8. 12Once more
  9. 14Inflated senses of self
  10. 16Pottery ovens
  11. 18Sounds from a 5-Down ... and from the noses inside a 5-Down
  12. 20Filing cabinet securer
  13. 21"In memoriam" story
  14. 22Declare
  15. 23Rx regulator
  16. 24___ echelon
  17. 27Flowery necklace
  18. 28Tie to a dock
  19. 29Web address, for short
  20. 30Dessert on the faces inside a 5-Down, maybe

Down

  1. 1Approvals
  2. 2Making balloon animals or juggling, to some
  3. 3Online travel company named after a boat
  4. 4One with poor sportsmanship
  5. 5What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme
  6. 6Words followed by a kiss
  7. 7Temporarily released from custody, perhaps
  8. 9Altruistic person
  9. 11"That's mildly funny"
  10. 130, in soccer lingo
  11. 15Glide down a snowy mountain
  12. 17Blue expanse
  13. 19Truncated trunk
  14. 23___ shot (seasonal vaccination)
  15. 25Hawaiian food that's a paste made from taro root
  16. 26"The Masque of the Red Death" author

The answer to “What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme” in the New York Times Midi crossword is CLOWNCAR — a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 16, 2026, a Sunday puzzle, at 5-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.

“What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme” answer

CLOWNCAR (8 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 CLOWNCAR.

When else has “What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme” 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) → CLOWNCAR. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme”?

The answer is CLOWNCAR, a 8-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 16, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme”?

8 letters: CLOWNCAR.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on August 16, 2026 (a Sunday puzzle), at 5-Down.

Can “What a pair of jokers might be found in the back of? ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme” 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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