Mini Crossword Clues & Answers for December 25, 2016

The Mini packs a full crossword into a tiny grid, so every square matters: each letter belongs to both an Across and a Down answer. Clues tend to be breezy and modern (pop culture, everyday phrases, a little wordplay), and the timer makes it a favourite for friendly competition.

Grids are usually 5×5, and larger on some days. A new Mini is published the evening before its date (Eastern Time), so night owls can play tomorrow's puzzle early.

• Sweep the Across clues first, filling only what you are sure of, then switch to Down. The crossings will confirm or correct your guesses.
• Start with fill-in-the-blanks. Clues like "___ and cheese" are the quickest wins.
• Trust the grammar. A plural clue means a plural answer; a past-tense clue usually means an answer ending in -ED.
• Use partial reveals. On this page you can flip one letter of one answer, which is often enough to open up the whole corner.

For a specific clue in any crossword, try our crossword solver with the letters you already have.