‘August zodiac sign’ NYT Mini Crossword clue answer and hints

Today’s NYT Crossword puzzle heavily focuses on astrology, with two of today’s clues having the same hint—”August zodiac sign.”

This clue is for both eight-across and six-down in the Aug. 27 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle. If you’re struggling, don’t worry, because I’ve got a few hints you can use to crack both clues and the answers.

‘August zodiac sign’ NYT Mini Crossword clue Aug. 27 hints and answer

• Hint 1: Eight-across starts with a “V.”
• Hint 2: Eight-across nearly rhymes with turbo.
• Hint 3: Six-down starts with an “L.”
• Hint 4: Six-down is a Greek word meaning lion.

The answer to the eight-across “August zodiac sign” clue is “VIRGO,” and the answer to the six-down “August zodiac sign” clue is “LEO.” If you’re unfamiliar with these zodiac signs, Leo is the fifth zodiac sign, and it’s assigned to people born between July 23 and Aug. 22, whereas Virgo’s are those born from Aug. 23 to Sept. 22.

NYT Aug. 27 Mini Crossword puzzle: All clues and answers

Across

• 1A Point of transition between two zodiac signs — CUSP
• 5A Declare legally avoid — ANNUL
• 7A Providence,_____ Island — RHODE
• 8A August zodiac sign — VIRGO
• 9A Olympic fencing sword — EPEE

Down

• 1D Slice up, as a turkey — CARVE
• 2D Not “with it” — UNHIP
• 3D Be a noisy bedmate — SNORE
• 4D Cutely pokeable bit of belly flab — PUDGE
• 6D August zodiac sign — LEO

‘August zodiac sign’ NYT Crossword clue difficulty

When I read today’s crossword clue, I knew I would be in trouble because not only were there two “August zodiac sign” clues, but I also didn’t know much about the zodiac. I knew Leo was an August zodiac sign because my younger brother was born in August, and that’s his sign. But I didn’t know the other sign until I solved the clue for one down and could guess the answer.

Unless you’re into zodiac signs and astrology—or happen to be a Leo or Virgo baby—this clue would have been tough but not too impossible to solve. Because of this, I’d give it a difficulty rating of three out of five.

Games to try after the NYT Mini Crossword

If you’ve enjoyed solving today’s mini crossword puzzle, try the daily mini crosswords from the LA Times or the Washington Post. Or, if you like word games and word searches, try Strands or Spelling Bee from the NYT.