‘Doorbell’s sound’ NYT Mini Crossword clue answer and hints

A “doorbell’s sound” always makes me quiver, because it means I have to get up to answer the door and speak to whoever’s there. Worse still, it’s also an NYT Mini Crossword clue that’s potentially spelling disaster for your daily word game efforts.

‘Doorbell’s sound’ Aug. 28 NYT Mini Crossword clue hints

• Hint one: A type of garden wind device.
• Hint two: To butt in with your input.
• Hint three: The answer is almost a crime.
• Hint four: It ends with “E.”

I’ve given you four solid clues, so now it’s time to go knocking for the answer.

‘Doorbell’s sound’ answer Aug. 28 NYT Mini Crossword

“CHIME” is the word you’re looking for when it comes to four across in the Aug. 28 NYT Mini Crossword.

People commonly have a Wind Chime in their garden, which uses the wind to clink its metal bars together to play delightful notes—whereas some people like to chime in with a comment on a matter (hint two). Also, swap the “H” with an “R” for the answer, and you have a crime waiting to happen.

Aug. 28 NYT Mini Crossword puzzle: All clues and answers

Across

• 1A Tool for swabbing the deck — MOP
• 4A Doorbell’s sound — CHIME
• 6A Vertical lines on graphs, in math — Y AXES
• 7A Crept around in a weaselly way — SLUNK
• 8A ____-turvy — TOPSY

Down

• 1D Bungled situation — MIX UP
• 2D Signs of things to come — OMENS
• 3D Bothersome — PESKY
• 4D Skin bump — CYST
• 5D Angel hair topper? — HALO

‘Doorbell’s sound’ crossword clue difficulty

I think “Chime” is a pretty easy solution—even without solving clues around this answer. “Ring,” “Beep,” “Ding,” “Dong,” and any other similar sound a doorbell could make are all four letters, leaving “Chime” as a straightforward candidate. For this, I’m giving it a two out of five for difficulty today.

NYT Mini Crossword tips and tricks

If crosswords give you trouble—even though you enjoy them—I’m here to make your experience more enjoyable with handy hints:

• First off, use a hint if you’re stuck. There’s no shame in revealing even a single letter to get you across the finish line.
• Think broadly with most clues. Many aren’t as they appear and require you to think about different ways you can interpret the words.
• Solve other clues linked to the one you’re stuck on first.
• Answers can be two words, not just one.
• Homophones are common clues—this is a word that sounds like another word, but is spelled differently.

Puzzles to enjoy after finishing the NYT Mini Crossword

Test yourself further with the LA Times, Washington Post, Strands, and Spelling Bee daily word games, as they receive a new one each day with refreshed puzzles and clues.