‘One just squeaking by?’ NYT Mini clue hints and answer (Sept. 10)

Today’s NYT Mini clue, “One just squeaking by?” is perhaps one of the easiest I’ve come across, but you shouldn’t feel ashamed for not getting it. The NYT can be tricky with its clues, so you may think this one is quite complicated—but it’s not.

 ‘One just squeaking by?’ NYT Mini clue hints

I think you can still reach the answer, so let me offer you four hints before giving it away.

• Hint 1: A cheese fiend.
• Hint 2: Jerry from Tom and Jerry is one.
• Hint 3: A rodent similar to a rat.
• Hint 4: Begins with an “M.”

Don’t scroll any further if you want to keep trying. I’m about to reveal the answer.

‘One just squeaking by?’ NYT Mini clue answer

The answer to today’s NYT Mini clue, “One just squeaking by?” is “MOUSE.” I shouldn’t have to explain what a mouse is. Hopefully, you’ve not seen any in your house, but you’ve definitely seen them on TV, thanks to famous mice like Mickey Mouse, Jerry (from Tom and Jerry), and Danger Mouse. My personal favorite is Mousey of Bodger and Badger fame.

‘One just squeaking by?’ NYT Mini clue difficulty rating

I think this is the easiest NYT clue I’ve come across to date. Not many things squeak, but mice famously do. You may have overthought this clue, but it does what it says on the tin. So, I’m giving this clue a one out of five difficulty rating.

All Sept. 10 NYT Mini answers

Across

• 1A What a phisher might try to get you to click — LINK
• 5A “___Copperhead,” Barbara Kingsolver novel that won a 2023 Pulitzer — DEMON
• 6A Act melodramatically — EMOTE
• 7A One just squeaking by? — MOUSE
• 8A Suspicious of — ONTO

Down

• 1D Fruit used to treat scurvy — LEMON
• 2D “Catch ya later!” — IM OUT
• 3D “Quite the contrary!” — NOT SO
• 4D Bending body part — KNEE
• 5D Music submission to a recording studio — DEMO

How to play other words games like the NYT Mini crossword

Once you finish today’s NYT Mini, why not try other word games? The daily crosswords at The Atlantic, LA Times, and the Washington Post are always good fun, while NYT’s Strands and Spelling Bee offer something a bit different.