‘Little spats’ NYT Mini Crossword July 31 answer and hints

Today’s NYT Crossword puzzle clue might be hard to crack if you don’t know what “Little spats” are. And no, this clue doesn’t refer to small footwear accessories—although that would make it much more interesting!

This clue, “Little spats,” is from the July 31 NYT mini crossword puzzle. While spats may not be commonly used anymore, I’m sure we’ve all been involved in a little spat or two growing up. I sure have, which is how I know the answer.

‘Little spats’ July 31 NYT Mini Crossword hints and answer

• Hint 1: It starts with a “T.”
• Hint 2: It means a slight argument.
• Hint 3: It’s commonly used in this phrase: “A lovers’ ____.”
• Hint 4: It rhymes with cliff.

The answer to this clue is below. Please only read on if you are no longer trying to solve it!

The answer to “Little spats” is “TIFFS.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a tiff is essentially a petty quarrel and is usually nothing so serious. What’s interesting about this word is that it can be used as a noun or a verb, and the verb usage was actually first known to be used in 1700. How cool is that?

Now that you know the answer to one-down, the rest of the July 31 NYT mini crossword puzzle should be much easier to solve.

July 31 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle: All clues and answers

Across

• 1A Keyboard key near the top left—TAB
• 4A Hot couple, in a celebrity gossip column—ITEM
• 6A Wild, as an animal—FERAL
• 8A Like many four-legged friends—FURRY
• 9A Keyboard key on the bottom—SPACE

Down

• 1D Little spats—TIFFS
• 2D Thoroughly devoured—ATE UP
• 3D Yogi who said, “Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they won’t come to yours”—BERRA
• 5D Comedian Maron—MARC
• 7D Caustic chemical compound—LYE

‘Little spat’ clue difficulty, rated

As soon as I saw this clue, I knew the answer, but only because my siblings and I used to quarrel consistently, so the word “tiff” was used often in my house while growing up. However, it may not have been so commonplace for you, especially as it’s such an “old” word. Because of this, I’d give it a three out of five in difficulty.

What to play after the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle

Have you finished the NYT Mini Crossword puzzle? Don’t worry—there are more mini crosswords from the LA Times and the Washington Post you can play daily. But if word games are your jam, try these from the NYT: Strands and Spelling Bee.