They travel up and down snow covered hills — NYT Mini Crossword Clue (October 17, 2025)
Winter imagery closes the across sequence. Here you will confirm how the clue lands on SLEDS, a plural noun that the Mini selected for its rhythmic syllables, shared letters with nearby entries, and precise alignment with Word Tips hints. Apostrophes display as ' and quotation marks as " to preserve HTML clarity.
9 Across
They travel up and down snow covered hills
Word Tips emphasizes related terms like toboggans and luges while centering the same five letter answer. In Mini construction, SLEDS is favored over singular sled because the clue references they, signaling a plural solution from the start. The repeating consonant balance also mirrors CEDED just above it for elegant grid symmetry.
Cross Checks
- 8-Across CEDED secures each letter, especially the well placed E that SLEDS shares with CEDED and FEEDS.
- 4-Down OILED secures each letter, especially the well placed E that SLEDS shares with CEDED and FEEDS.
- 5-Down FEEDS secures each letter, especially the well placed E that SLEDS shares with CEDED and FEEDS.
Winter Solver Notes
Seasonal Context
Minis regularly cycle through winter sports vocabulary. Pair SLEDS with adjacent entries like skis or snow tubes in your memory bank so plural cues always pull you toward the right fill.
Letter Pattern Advantage
The S__DS framework is common in short grids. Once you see the D from OILED and the S from FEEDS, SLEDS becomes inevitable.
Speed Technique
The clue says they travel up and down, hinting at repeated motion. Pluralize immediately and only consider answers that describe the travelers rather than the slope itself.
Beyond Word Tips
Our commentary highlights the editorial choice to run SLEDS near FEEDS, a playful internal rhyme that the external clue page does not mention. Recognizing these patterns helps you anticipate future pairings.