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Midi - The Heart and Soul of Crosswords

◆ · By Aaron · Published 9 months ago

Meta Prompt
Oh no! Right before I published this puzzle, a crossword-hating sorcerer waved his wand and removed something crucial to the heart and soul of this (and every) crossword from some of its entries! Can you find what's missing and save this grid before it's too late? The solution to this puzzle's meta is something that was removed from each starred clue in this crossword. Fill difficulty: Medium-Challenging. Meta difficulty: Easy
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Zachary Hollback solved at 12:39 on 6/14/2022
  • Pixlate solved at 13:24 on 6/14/2022
  • BZU solved at 14:38 on 6/14/2022
  • Joah solved at 15:34 on 6/14/2022
  • Hoyt Arcane solved at 18:26 on 6/14/2022
  • Mike D solved at 19:35 on 6/14/2022
  • M Forest solved at 20:03 on 6/14/2022
  • Lobsterboys solved at 20:51 on 6/14/2022
  • andeux solved at 21:07 on 6/14/2022
  • Larry Edelstein solved at 22:25 on 6/14/2022
  • benchen71 solved at 2:27 on 6/15/2022
  • Daniel P solved at 21:09 on 6/18/2022
  • Philip Chow solved at 19:12 on 7/7/2022

Comments

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  • Pixlate 🤓2:35 · 9 months ago
    Nice! I was only able to get a few themes but got the association by the time ONO came around
    • Aaron constructor · 9 months ago
      Thanks for solving!
    • Mike D 🤓4:51 · 9 months ago
      Very cool! I got held up on the meta by picking the wrong letter to keep for a couple where there were two options (I removed PSEA from CHEATS
      27A(*) Nosebleeds at the opera (at least going to church is free!)[------]
      rather than APSE and WERE from SKED
      38A(*) Like shish kebabs... or bombing comedians (don't forget to quench your thirst with a drink from that wide-mouthed jug)[----]
      rather than EWER). Eventually I paid closer attention to the parentheticals in the clues and that cracked it.
      • Aaron constructor · 9 months ago
        Thanks! I wanted to use bars to make it clear where the deletions were but that resulted in some unchecked squares I couldn't clue off of. Glad it was still gettable even in this harder form.
      • M Forest 🤓6:40 · 9 months ago
        Almost didn't complete the meta but your "flavor text" clued me in! Nicely done.
        • Aaron constructor · 9 months ago
          Thanks for solving!
        • benchen71 6:20 · 9 months ago
          Nice one! Good to see some other meta constructors on Crosshare!
          • Aaron constructor · 9 months ago
            Thanks! Always wanted to try to do a meta and these mini competitions are always the best excuse for trying new things.
          • Aaron constructor · 9 months ago
            Thanks to everyone who solved and tried to complete the meta.
            Meta Solution:
            Crosswordese
            Meta Explanation:
            LIST
            1A(*) More than just liberal (Do baby newts also dream of politics or is that just a human trait?)[----]
            + EFT = LEFTIST
            GENTRY
            15A(*) "Singing Cowboy" of filmdom (I'm parched... there's not much water here in le désert)[------]
            + EAU = GENEAUTRY
            CHEATS
            27A(*) Nosebleeds at the opera (at least going to church is free!)[------]
            + APSE = CHEAPSEATS
            SKED
            38A(*) Like shish kebabs... or bombing comedians (don't forget to quench your thirst with a drink from that wide-mouthed jug)[----]
            + EWER = SKEWERED
            DRS
            9D(*) Fundraising dinner attendees (I heard the entertainment at this one is very avant-garde...)[---]
            + ONO = DONORS
            FIN
            29D(*) Rare beginning for a hit song (Lots of hits are written about whiskey but for the life of me can't think of one about good old lemon sugar-water)[---]
            + ADE = FADEIN
            My only regret with this puzzle was being unable to fit OREO.
            • kieranjboyd 4:22 · 9 months ago
              Oh this is very clever - wish I'd've figured out the meta myself! Well done!
            Play today's daily mini crossword
            1A
            (*) More than just liberal (Do baby newts also dream of politics or is that just a human trait?)
            1
            2
            3
            4
            5
            6
            7
            8
            9
            10
            11
            12
            13
            14
            15
            16
            17
            18
            19
            20
            21
            22
            23
            24
            25
            26
            27
            28
            29
            30
            31
            32
            33
            34
            35
            36
            37
            38
            Across
            1. 1A
              (*) More than just liberal (Do baby newts also dream of politics or is that just a human trait?)
            2. 5A
              Slovenly
            3. 11A
              Dubai dignitary
            4. 12A
              Location of many a dry state?
            5. 13A
              Simplicity
            6. 14A
              Still
            7. 15A
              (*) "Singing Cowboy" of filmdom (I'm parched... there's not much water here in le désert)
            8. 17A
              Deathtrap Ford
            9. 18A
              Pinky's partner, in animation (with "the")
            10. 23A
              _____ Lion (Former stage name for a rapper "reincarnated" as a reggae singer)
            11. 24A
              _____ art
            12. 25A
              They're found alongside gulls and buoys
            13. 26A
              Amherst sch.
            14. 27A
              (*) Nosebleeds at the opera (at least going to church is free!)
            15. 29A
              Big-boned East Coast rapper
            16. 33A
              ____ citizenship
            17. 35A
              Respond to a phishing attempt, perhaps
            18. 36A
              Vocalizations that might translate to to "Take me on a walk!" and "Throw me that toy!"
            19. 37A
              Earned
            20. 38A
              (*) Like shish kebabs... or bombing comedians (don't forget to quench your thirst with a drink from that wide-mouthed jug)
            Down
            1. 1D
              Auto exec Iacocca
            2. 2D
              "______ there's no heaven/ it's easy if you try..."
            3. 3D
              Affirmative, in Acapulco
            4. 4D
              Garden State capital
            5. 5D
              Addict
            6. 6D
              Common color for sports uniforms
            7. 7D
              Der, die, oder das
            8. 8D
              _____ Dury and the Blockheads (UK post-punk pioneers)
            9. 9D
              (*) Fundraising dinner attendees (I heard the entertainment at this one is very avant-garde...)
            10. 10D
              NBA star Ming
            11. 16D
              Pinball leaderboard feature
            12. 17D
              Yakima winter setting (abbr.)
            13. 19D
              Some Best Western neighbors
            14. 20D
              Istanbul's former ___ Airport
            15. 21D
              Whisper in a horror movie
            16. 22D
              Duck Hunt platform, for short
            17. 28D
              Obey, as a warning
            18. 29D
              (*) Rare beginning for a hit song (Lots of hits are written about whiskey but for the life of me can't think of one about good old lemon sugar-water)
            19. 30D
              Let sit in a wine cave
            20. 31D
              "Dynamite" AC/DC song
            21. 32D
              Write notes in a textbook margin, say
            22. 34D
              Trip vehicle?
            Loading...