Quick Answer
Clue: “Toys that go on the decline in winter?”
Answer: SLEDS
Answer length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 1-Down
The New York Times crossword clue “Toys that go on the decline in winter?” is answered with SLEDS, using a playful double meaning of “decline” as a downward slope.
Why SLEDS Is the Right NYT Answer
- The clue hinges on “decline” meaning a downward slope, not just “getting worse,” and sleds literally go downhill in winter.
- Solver pages for the January 29, 2026 NYT Mini clearly list SLEDS as the 5-letter solution for this 1-Down entry.
- Because sleds are classic winter toys used on snowy hills, they perfectly match both the surface reading and the hidden pun.
What SLEDS Means in Plain English
- Sleds are low, usually runner-based vehicles or toys designed to slide over snow or ice, often used by kids for recreation on hills.
- In everyday winter language, “taking the sleds out” means heading to a snowy slope for some downhill fun.
- That makes SLEDS a natural fit for a clue that talks about toys and a seasonal “decline” in one neat phrase.
Crossword-Specific Help for SLEDS
- In the grid, SLEDS appears as S L E D S; with a couple of crossings you might briefly see _LEDS or S_EDS, but the winter context locks in SLEDS quickly.
- Crossword databases show SLEDS as a frequent answer for clues like “Winter vehicles,” “Classic snow-day toys,” and “Huskies’ haulers,” reinforcing it as standard fill.
- Here the question mark in the clue flags wordplay, signaling that “go on the decline” should be read as “go down a slope,” which is exactly what sleds do.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- A question mark at the end often means a pun or twist; with winter or snow in play, think of SLEDS for 5-letter “toys” or “vehicles.”
- Watch for “go downhill,” “ride a hill,” “snow-day rides,” or “winter toys” in clues; these all commonly point to SLEDS or SLED.
If crossings give S_EDS or _LEDS in a cold-weather clue, SLEDS is usually the best fit.
More NYT Mini Crossword Answers for January 29, 2026
| Clue | Answer | |
| 1A | Employees, collectively | View Answer |
| 6A | The “L” of TTYL | View Answer |
| 7A | Slowly lessen, as political support | View Answer |
| 8A | Dunkin’ offering | View Answer |
| 9A | Tricky things to navigate with a stroller | View Answer |
| 1D | Toys that go on the decline in winter? | View Answer |
| 2D | Set of fortunetelling cards | View Answer |
| 3D | Make amends | View Answer |
| 4D | Out of patience | View Answer |
| 5D | Guitar bars | View Answer |
