NYT Mini · 1-Across · 5 letters

Big ___ (cuddling partner) NYT Mini crossword clue

Editorially reviewed August 19, 2026

Answer

SPOON

Why SPOON fits

SPOON completes the familiar phrase “big spoon.” When two people cuddle in a spooning position, the person wrapping around the other is commonly called the big spoon.

Clue signal

The blank completes a familiar two-word expression, and the parenthetical defines the role.

SPOON meaning

The person on the outside in a spooning or side-by-side cuddling position.

Where this clue appeared

1-Across in NYT Mini puzzle for August 18, 2026.

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