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Three by Three

· By Mikey G · Published 2024-01-27T18:00:17.445Z

Meta Prompt
[Level 3] The answer to the meta is where you might be when you solve it.
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Pair O Ducks solved 2024-01-27T18:19:14.235Z
  • Matt A solved 2024-01-27T18:24:12.123Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2024-01-27T18:38:37.950Z
  • SJMcK solved 2024-01-27T18:41:38.864Z
  • frostyjhammer solved 2024-01-27T18:54:30.952Z
  • KayW solved 2024-01-27T18:57:45.603Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2024-01-27T19:38:08.886Z
  • Philip Chow solved 2024-01-27T20:06:04.195Z
  • Abide solved 2024-01-27T21:08:01.270Z
  • Berto solved 2024-01-27T21:20:17.569Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2024-01-27T21:30:38.688Z
  • boharr solved 2024-01-27T21:55:46.793Z
  • Myelbow solved 2024-01-27T22:43:05.482Z
  • Meg solved 2024-01-27T22:49:41.968Z
  • Carolyn solved 2024-01-27T22:57:18.212Z
  • oldjudge solved 2024-01-27T23:08:53.938Z
  • damefox solved 2024-01-27T23:36:28.079Z
  • rvkal solved 2024-01-27T23:58:10.897Z
  • lbray53 solved 2024-01-28T00:18:43.228Z
  • Hector solved 2024-01-28T00:22:31.494Z
  • benchen71 solved 2024-01-28T02:49:15.593Z
  • Rufus T Firefly solved 2024-01-28T03:13:15.485Z
  • whimsy solved 2024-01-28T03:30:46.858Z
  • SamKat9 solved 2024-01-28T03:53:40.802Z
  • Danny K Bernstein solved 2024-01-28T05:31:16.198Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2024-01-28T13:25:41.199Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2024-01-28T13:32:19.294Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2024-01-28T13:46:12.772Z
  • kurtalert solved 2024-01-28T15:07:54.056Z
  • Gutman solved 2024-01-28T16:23:24.776Z
  • dannyvee solved 2024-01-28T18:27:17.072Z
  • MatthewL solved 2024-01-28T18:40:46.990Z
  • Schmeel solved 2024-01-28T19:23:38.704Z
  • SJ solved 2024-01-28T19:46:31.433Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2024-01-28T21:19:13.216Z
  • JM solved 2024-01-28T23:27:29.892Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2024-01-29T01:06:24.213Z
  • andeux solved 2024-01-29T01:35:56.385Z
  • Laura M solved 2024-01-29T02:16:29.009Z
  • Bob J solved 2024-01-29T06:03:19.862Z
  • DrTom solved 2024-01-29T14:46:59.481Z
  • DIS solved 2024-01-29T19:19:06.713Z
  • DJB solved 2024-01-31T08:59:44.875Z
  • Steve M solved 2024-01-31T21:24:41.914Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2024-02-01T14:03:07.981Z
  • hoover solved 2024-02-01T16:58:00.873Z
  • woozy solved 2024-02-01T19:14:16.574Z
  • Qmark solved 2024-02-03T16:22:12.463Z
  • riotblob solved 2024-02-05T00:50:25.973Z

Comments

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  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-01-27T18:05:04.182Z
    Answer: CLOUD NINE
    Explanation: So many black squares! Those squares, though, all solve a purpose in this one. Per the title, we need to look for something related to the phrase "three by three," and the easiest way to do this is three-by-three squares. There's typically a lot of those in a standard crossword in which all squares have letters, but the bizarre placement of the blocks means that only 9 three-by-three letter squares appear in this puzzle, perfectly symmetrical all the way around. In each of these nine squares, one letter appears exactly three times (so "C" in the CBS/DOC/CLOG square in top left, and so forth). These nine three-peats spell out CLOUD NINE, where I hope you are when you're finished! Note that 3 by (times) 3 is indeed 9 and that these nine squares have a grand total of 81 letters, perfect for meta #81!
    • CPJohnson 3s · 2024-01-27T18:39:00.830Z
      Thanks, Mikey!
      • SJMcK 🤓12:29 · 2024-01-27T18:41:58.378Z
        Ooh, nice one!
        • Philip Chow 🤓10:00 · 2024-01-27T20:11:29.304Z
          fun one... title immediately got me thinking of tic tac toe... favorite clue is TACOSTAND
          • Mikey G constructor · 2024-01-28T22:42:05.648Z
            It's the taco the town!
          • Abide 🤓10:22 · 2024-01-27T21:11:48.994Z
            Love the #81 tie-in!
            • Mikey G constructor · 2024-01-28T22:42:19.004Z
              They don't all have tie-ins, but this grid was from a few months back and thought it'd be good for #81!
            • boharr 3s · 2024-01-27T21:58:34.491Z
              You knocked my block off, Mikey. Thanks.
              • FrankieHeck 🤓13:19 · 2024-01-27T21:39:39.020Z
                Fun!
                • Meg 2s · 2024-01-27T22:51:05.117Z
                  This was a lot easier once I let go of the idea that the letters had to be in a row. Thanks Mikey!
                  • Carolyn 2s · 2024-01-27T22:57:54.931Z
                    Enjoyed it!
                    • oldjudge 5s · 2024-01-27T23:10:35.691Z
                      A week two at best--but fun.
                      • Mikey G constructor · 2024-01-28T15:13:20.242Z
                        I think I may have underestimated the difficulty on this, but I almost always do the opposite, so I'll take it, haha.
                      • Hector 🤓7:37 · 2024-01-28T00:26:52.351Z
                        Very elegant.
                        • benchen71 🤓7:35 · 2024-01-28T02:50:24.018Z
                          Very elegant!
                          • SamKat9 🤓16:06 · 2024-01-28T03:53:55.358Z
                            Nice puzzle, Mikey! Thanks!
                            • whimsy 🤓6:14 · 2024-01-28T03:33:30.946Z
                              There it is again -- saw the 3x3=9 tie-in, but forgot to appreciate that it was #81!
                              • Mikey G constructor · 2024-01-28T15:14:04.820Z
                                I promise that it isn't always there! But that explains why I needed to have #79 (no tie-in) be the hard one, since #80 and #81 were already pre-planned, haha.
                              • kurtalert 🤓5:39 · 2024-01-28T15:09:01.832Z
                                Really clever. Thanks for the puzzle, Mikey!
                                • MatthewL 🤓9:26 · 2024-01-28T18:43:15.036Z
                                  Uggh -- tried ON CLOUD NINE and was rejected, so thought I had the wrong idea. Took me a bit to figure out I didn't need the ON. Thanks for the puzzle, Mikey!
                                  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-01-28T22:42:50.891Z
                                    Oooh, that's fair - I'll add that. I'll take that!
                                  • DrTom 🤓17:44 · 2024-01-29T14:59:43.781Z
                                    Wow, this just keeps getting better, 9 sets of nine squares for puzzle #81 - I was wondering if you did it again and you sure did. Amazing my friend, amazing
                                    • DrTom 🤓17:44 · 2024-01-29T14:54:40.752Z
                                      So, I just went back and read how I was SUPPOSED to do it, very slick and not the random (OK, chaotic) method I did use. I should have known there would be order in all of that. I guess I am better at guessing what might be going on in Mike's mind (no doubt a function of the scary things that happen in my own) than as a constructor or solver.
                                      • DrTom 🤓17:44 · 2024-01-29T14:50:34.721Z
                                        Got a bit messed up by all the Os and the different arrangement, but got INE last night and this AM had the AHA, CLOUD NINE (3 x 3) of course. Fun one Mikey.
                                        • HeadinHome 🤓3:31 · 2024-02-01T14:07:14.217Z
                                          That was a thoroughly satisfying AHA!! I tried a variety of other theories, including at one point highlighting all the places where there were 3 same letters in a diagonal row (“that just seems like too many of those not to be involved,” says I)… and of course it WAS involved, but not the way I thought. Discovering the real solution got me all excited. That’s a good puzzle!
                                          • hoover 2s · 2024-02-01T17:01:28.418Z
                                            I saw the 3x3 blocks right off the bat, but I went for the centers, which didn't spell anything. I didn't click to the fact that they each had 3 of a letter until this morning when I tried to anagram each block. I was stymied by the first block because it had hardly any vowels and it had 3 Cs ... hey wait a minute, 3 Cs... checking other 3x3 blocks... yeah!
                                            • Qmark 3s · 2024-02-03T16:23:18.835Z
                                              Got to this one late, but no nudges needed...thanks Mikey! I always enjoy your math-themed ones...perfect nine squares of 9 for puzzle 81.
                                              • Wilson Hubbell 19:13 · 2024-02-04T15:56:03.833Z
                                                really enjoyed solving this, but i am new to metas and didn't even think about it having a title or that the title would help. i just thought the answer would be another really bad/great pun but at a meta level, which is why i submitted "in the crosshares"
                                                1A
                                                "The Price Is Right" network
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                                                Across
                                                1. 1A
                                                  "The Price Is Right" network
                                                2. 4A
                                                  Key by Z on a PC
                                                3. 7A
                                                  "I get it now!"
                                                4. 10A
                                                  Grumpy companion
                                                5. 11A
                                                  Entreaty
                                                6. 12A
                                                  Morrow of "Northern Exposure" and "Numb3rs"
                                                7. 13A
                                                  "This wooden shoe is stuck in the drain!" "Oh, yeah, there's a ___ in the sink"
                                                8. 15A
                                                  Baby politicians like to play with ___
                                                9. 17A
                                                  Dynamic beginning?
                                                10. 18A
                                                  Paces in races
                                                11. 20A
                                                  Drama in Yokohama
                                                12. 21A
                                                  "Native ___" (Richard Wright novel)
                                                13. 22A
                                                  Court org.
                                                14. 23A
                                                  Gazpacho, por ejemplo
                                                15. 25A
                                                  Online program many of my students use to practice mathematics (hint: it's three Roman numerals in increasing order that sum to 61)
                                                16. 27A
                                                  ___ attention (maintained a strict posture)
                                                17. 30A
                                                  I'm not exactly sure how sandpaper was invented, but I have a ___
                                                18. 34A
                                                  Not neo-
                                                19. 36A
                                                  Network that merged with the WB to form the CW
                                                20. 37A
                                                  "Innocent!"
                                                21. 39A
                                                  One of Heart's Wilsons
                                                22. 40A
                                                  Century, once
                                                23. 42A
                                                  When I went into the candy-manufacturing business, I ___
                                                24. 44A
                                                  Increase sharply
                                                25. 46A
                                                  "Want to hear my joke about the desert?" "You and your ___ humor!"
                                                26. 47A
                                                  Yard sale caveat
                                                27. 48A
                                                  One of several NCAA March Madness networks (don't worry, my bracket will get busted like usual)
                                                28. 50A
                                                  Sequel to the card game Uno (it's what you think it is)
                                                29. 52A
                                                  H
                                                30. 54A
                                                  US Open winner of 2018 and 2020
                                                31. 56A
                                                  Play charades, essentially
                                                32. 57A
                                                  Reed, e.g.
                                                33. 59A
                                                  Challenge
                                                34. 61A
                                                  Popular bellhops are part of the ___ crowd
                                                35. 62A
                                                  "Of course I'm a lion - look at my costume! Need I say ___?"
                                                36. 63A
                                                  A classic: "I submitted ___ puns of mine into a competition. I hoped one would win, but sadly, no pun in ___ did"
                                                37. 64A
                                                  Cinematic FX
                                                38. 65A
                                                  HS course
                                                39. 66A
                                                  Down
                                                Down
                                                1. 1D
                                                  Atlanta-based health agcy.
                                                2. 2D
                                                  "Are you going to the hardware shop to buy a door fastener?" "Yep, gotta ___!"
                                                3. 3D
                                                  Opprobrium
                                                4. 4D
                                                  The whole kit and caboodle
                                                5. 5D
                                                  Music's Bridges or Russell
                                                6. 6D
                                                  Shell station?
                                                7. 7D
                                                  It was first produced in 1912 in present-day Chelsea Market in New York
                                                8. 8D
                                                  "Around the ___" (ESPN panel show)
                                                9. 9D
                                                  "Curb Your Enthusiasm" network
                                                10. 11D
                                                  Big Bird's network (all these networks aren't meta-related, I promise!)
                                                11. 14D
                                                  Reach for the stars
                                                12. 16D
                                                  "Go away! I'm solving a puzzle!"
                                                13. 17D
                                                  Tex-Mex adjective
                                                14. 19D
                                                  When H&R Block employees travel to the forest, they go on ___
                                                15. 24D
                                                  Product originally named Fruit Scones upon its debut in 1964
                                                16. 26D
                                                  When I can't find the proper Tupperware topper, I flip my ___
                                                17. 27D
                                                  Roomy ride
                                                18. 28D
                                                  Second half of a ball game
                                                19. 29D
                                                  Ark. neighbor
                                                20. 30D
                                                  Barbecue spice mix
                                                21. 31D
                                                  What a piece of work
                                                22. 32D
                                                  Module
                                                23. 33D
                                                  Woolworth's, once
                                                24. 35D
                                                  Mich. neighbor
                                                25. 38D
                                                  UK reference work
                                                26. 41D
                                                  White Sox pitcher Dylan who might ___ playing for the White Sox this year!
                                                27. 43D
                                                  "Whoops, sorry!"
                                                28. 45D
                                                  Mottled
                                                29. 49D
                                                  When we go to the roller rink, I have ___ expectations
                                                30. 50D
                                                  "Can you help me transport all these handbells?" "Yeah, but then my car will get a ___ in it"
                                                31. 51D
                                                  Present introduction?
                                                32. 53D
                                                  In a bit
                                                33. 54D
                                                  "Which rowing implement do you want me to use?" "Doesn't matter - either ___"
                                                34. 55D
                                                  What a definite integral calculates
                                                35. 56D
                                                  ___ drop (but if I fall down, it's a Mike drop)
                                                36. 58D
                                                  Carp at
                                                37. 60D
                                                  Otorhinolaryngologist, more concisely
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