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My Desk

Mini Crossword

The classic word puzzle, sized for a coffee break and written for English learners: every clue is a simple definition, every solved word locks in green, and there's a fresh grid every day. No clock, no pressure — just you and the words.

How to play

  1. Tap any white square — its word highlights and the clue appears above the grid. Tap the same square again to switch between Across and Down.
  2. Type the answer (keyboard or the on-screen letters). The cursor moves ahead by itself.
  3. When a word's last letter goes in, it checks itself: green means correct and locked; a red flash means try again — nothing is erased.
  4. Stuck? Tap 💡 Reveal this letter to fill the selected square.
  5. Solve every word to finish. The daily puzzle grows your 🔥 streak; Practice mode has endless grids at three levels.

Where the words come from

Every answer is a word from ESLDesk's own leveled pools with a definition written for learners — everyday A1–A2 words, B1 vocabulary for travel, money, and feelings, and the Academic Word List and Smart Words at advanced. They are the same words behind Word Rescue and Word of the Day, so the games reinforce each other.

Frequently asked questions
How does the daily puzzle work?
Every day there is one mini crossword — the same grid for every player, chosen from a bank of pre-built puzzles, with a new one at your local midnight. Solve it and the day counts toward your 🔥 streak. Your half-finished grid is saved in your browser, so you can leave and come back any time before midnight.
What makes this crossword good for English learners?
The clues are not riddles or wordplay — every clue is a clear, learner-friendly definition ("a round fruit, red or green" → APPLE), written for the site's own vocabulary lists. Words check themselves as you complete them, a 💡 button reveals a letter when you are stuck, and after solving you can send the whole puzzle's words to My Flashcards with one click.
What are the levels in Practice mode?
🌱 Beginner grids use five short everyday words (A1–A2). 🌿 Intermediate grids interlock six B1-level words — the same difficulty as the daily puzzle. 🌳 Advanced grids weave seven longer words from the Academic Word List and "smart" vocabulary (B2–C1).
Do I lose my streak if the puzzle is hard?
No — there is no clock and no fail state. Take all day if you need it: wrong words simply flash and stay editable, and revealed letters cost nothing but a note on your result. The streak only asks that you finish the grid before midnight.