Quick Answer
The New York Times Mini crossword clue “Odd little trinket” has the answer “CURIO”, which is a 5-letter Down entry.
Clue: “Odd little trinket”
Answer: CURIO
Length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 4-Down (4D) in the February 2, 2026 NYT Mini.
In the grid, you fill it as CURIO.
Why CURIO Is the Right NYT Answer
- A curio is defined as a small, unusual, or interesting object, often collected as a decorative trinket or curiosity. That lines up exactly with “odd little trinket,” where “odd” signals something unusual and “trinket” signals a small object.
- Answer keys and helper sites for the February 2, 2026 NYT Mini all list CURIO as the 5-letter solution for this clue, confirming both meaning and length.
What CURIO Means in Plain English
- A curio is a small, often decorative item kept because it’s unusual, rare, or simply interesting to look at. Think of something you might display in a curio cabinet: an odd figurine, a carved souvenir, a quirky antique.
- The word comes from “curiosity,” emphasizing that a curio is something that sparks curiosity rather than just everyday clutter.
Crossword-Specific Help: Pattern, Crossings, and Recurrence
- CURIO is classic crossword vocabulary, frequently clued as “Odd little trinket,” “Small collectible,” “Cabinet item,” or “Curiosity, for short.”
- In the February 2, 2026 grid, crossings from ANNUL, CAFFE, and DRIFT supply several letters, so once you see C-RI-O or C- - I O, CURIO becomes an easy fill.
- You’ll often see related phrases like curio cabinet or curio shop in clues if constructors want to hint more directly at the word.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When a clue combines “odd,” “little,” “trinket,” “collectible,” or “cabinet item,” CURIO should be high on your mental shortlist for a 5-letter answer.
- Pay attention to tone: “odd,” “bizarre,” or “unusual” is your signal that the puzzle wants CURIO rather than generic words like GIFT or TOY.
Use crossings: once you see C _ R I O or _ U R I O in a collectibles context, locking in CURIO is usually safe.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for February 02, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Rock band with albums like “High Voltage” and “Flick of the Switch” | View Answer |
| 5A | Stuck doing the same old, same old | View Answer |
| 7A | Burning up? | View Answer |
| 8A | -tion, for one | View Answer |
| 9A | Jared of 2025’s “Tron: Ares” | View Answer |
| 1D | Declare void, as a marriage | View Answer |
| 2D | ___ macchiato (espresso drink) | View Answer |
| 3D | Begin to veer off the road, say | View Answer |
| 4D | Odd little trinket | View Answer |
| 5D | What Apple smartphones run on | View Answer |
