Word before job or duck

Editorially verified for the Oct 13, 2026

5 Down

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A visual pairing of a miscellaneous task with an eccentric person, representing “odd job” and “odd duck.”

Clue explained

ODD comes before both “job” and “duck”: an odd job is a miscellaneous task, while an odd duck is an eccentric person. The clue points to these familiar two-word expressions.

Clue type:
Phrase or idiom

NYT Mini Crossword

This clue's Tuesday, October 13, 2026 appearance

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

Across

  1. 1One might have a litter ... or use it
  2. 4Capital on the Nile
  3. 6Expansive
  4. 7Spelling Bee rank between "Good" and "Nice"
  5. 8Overhead storage on an airplane

Down

  1. 1Tree that yields a chocolate substitute
  2. 2Garlicky condiment
  3. 3Subway vehicle
  4. 4Network with an eye logo
  5. 5Word before job or duck

The answer to “Word before job or duck” in the New York Times Mini crossword is ODD — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 13, 2026 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.

“Word before job or duck” answer

ODD (3 letters)

Use the reveal tiles above to uncover the solution one letter at a time if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Prefer the full answer straight away? It's ODD.

What does ODD mean?

Reading the plain dictionary sense of ODD is often the fastest way to see why it answers this clue.

(adjective)

  • different to what is usual or expected; strange
  • (of whole numbers such as 3 and 5) having one left over as a remainder when divided by two
  • happening or occurring infrequently and irregularly; occasional

When else has “Word before job or duck” appeared?

New York Times Mini 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.

October 13, 2026 (most recent) → ODD. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “Word before job or duck”?

The answer is ODD, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 13, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “Word before job or duck”?

3 letters: ODD.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Mini crossword on October 13, 2026, at 5-Down.

Can “Word before job or duck” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Mini 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 today's NYT Mini answers?

Every clue and answer from that day's puzzle is linked above, and the full grid is on the NYT Mini answers page.

New York Times Mini 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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