Door Handle — NYT Mini Crossword Clue (October 13, 2025)
The October 13, 2025 New York Times Mini Crossword opens with a practical household object. Here's how the clue resolves and how you can confirm it using crossword solving fundamentals.
1 Across
Door handle
A knob is the rounded grip you twist to open a hinged door. The four-letter length given by the grid and common crossword knowledge confirm this classic answer.
Why KNOB Fits This Clue
Definition Match
- Primary dictionary definition: a rounded lump or ball, especially at the end of an object.
- Common household usage: the grip attached to most interior and exterior doors.
- Crossword frequent flyer: KNOB appears often thanks to its symmetrical letter pattern.
Crossword Confirmation
- Letter Check: K aligns with 1-Down (Butter _), N crosses 2-Down, O crosses 3-Down, B crosses 4-Down.
- Pattern Recognition: KN-B narrows possible fills to KNOB when cross letters appear.
- Theme Context: Mini crosswords love everyday objects for early across clues.
Faster Fill Tips
Spot Physical Objects
Mini crosswords frequently start with tangible everyday items. If the clue references a household fixture, think of the obvious vocabulary before overcomplicating the answer.
Track Word Length
A four-letter slot for a door component is unlikely to be handle itself. Breaking the phrase into synonyms quickly leads to KNOB.
Use Crossing Traction
Even if you are unsure at first, filling symmetrical down answers will lock in the consonant-vowel structure K-N-O-B for a confident confirmation.
Remember Variants
Crossword editors occasionally use KNOB for categories beyond doors—think instrumentation, furniture, or control panels. Keep its versatility in mind.
Vocabulary Snapshot
Synonyms
- Handle
- Grasp
- Dial
- Button
Related Entries
- Doorknob (longer grids)
- Latch
- Lever
- Pull
Letter Breakdown
K (hard consonant) + N (common consonant) + O (dominant vowel) + B (versatile consonant). This mix produces smooth crossings that rarely generate ambiguity in compact grids.
Context From Word Tips
The Word Tips archive documented the answer as KNOB with four progressive reveals and an anagram hint referencing "bonk." Their hint series reinforced the rounded-shape definition and nudged solvers toward thinking about a molded grip. This aligns with the practical approach of the NYT Mini, which often reinforces foundational vocabulary.