NYT Mini · 5-Across · 5 letters
It’s in a pickle NYT Mini crossword clue
Editorially reviewed August 19, 2026
Decode the turn
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What to notice
Think of the salty liquid surrounding a cucumber during pickling.
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Answer
How the trick resolves
A cucumber becomes a pickle while soaking in BRINE, so the salty liquid is literally in and around a pickle. The wording also nods to the idiom “in a pickle,” meaning in trouble.
Continue this puzzleElevators, in British English →The turn in the clue
The clue invites the familiar trouble idiom, but “in” is meant physically.
The answer in plain English
A strong solution of salt and water used for pickling and preserving food.
Where this clue appeared
5-Across in NYT Mini puzzle for August 19, 2026.
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