TEA MASCOT
◆ · By DrTom · Published 2023-11-29T12:30:25.779Z
Meta Prompt
The meta answer is a wild animal
This little meta is something silly that I came up with on a whim. It is probably not more than a level 1, but given that many are working on a real week 4 Matt Gaffney I am sure a more solveable diversion will be appreciated.
The meta answer is a wild animal
I deem this a:
KITTEN
Calico
Persian
Puma
Lion
Thanks to my testers: Cinny, Peter Abide and Whimsy
Apparently this is a kitten but a Lynx kitten and it is a lot more ferocious than it looked to me. I mean I am getting "you call that a kitten" from some good solvers and even other constructors. Therefore maybe a nudge or two are in order? (three more tomorrow if these do not help)
Nudge 1] Everyone is no doubt tired of hearing this phrase, but "The Title, The Title, The Title" say it aloud and fast...what does that sound like?
Nudge 2] OK, now that that's out of the way, how about the theme answers. They are suitably odd and curiously similar, why do you think that is?
Nudge 3] In an almost repeat of Nudge 1, the themers say them aloud and fast...what does that sound like you are stating??
Nudges seem to be helping so here are some more:
Nudge 4] There is often "precious real estate" in a meta. These are clues or answers that will point you toward the solution. I'll state up front that the middle of this puzzle is NOT one of those, but there are two!
Nudge 5] Other "precious" spots are often near the beginning to get you thinking and near the end to verify what you have thought. I particularly like those spots.
Nudge 6] I LOVE to hide nudges or clues in the graphic, and this one is no different. There are two, one very subtle but quite evident, the other you will probably need to enlarge the picture to see.
THE REVEAL
The intent was good; say the title and many would hear TEAM MASCOT instead of TEA MASCOT.
Then the next step was all of the crazy long fills:
BARKSANDPAWS
PARKSANDDRAWS
MARKINGSAWS
HARKINGFLAWS
Not terms that come up in everyday conversation but ALL that sound like ARKANSAS when said aloud.
Therefore, we are looking for the ARKANSAS TEAM MASCOT which happens to be a wild animal, the RAZOZRBACK (and I accepted several variations and species drift). If you needed verification, clue 1A and 70A give it in that 1A clues a razor and 70A clue the back of the neck.
I am sorry if I underestimated it, from here on out I'll get others to rate it or leave it unrated and let you all decide.
For the graphic reveal, please go to:
Checking for previous play data...
Glad you have become acclimated enough to sniff out the truffle.1A
Razor brand
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Across
- 1ARazor brand
- 5APrice of pot
- 9AOpposite of imagined
- 13ATreat roughly, maybe with a big wooden hammer
- 14ACarried on in public
- 15ARepeated three times for; well you know
- 16AWhen I was able, vis-à-vis seeing Elba
- 17AJazzy Jones
- 18AWhat you see when waiting on people
- 19ACanine business that focuses on your dog's voice and feet
- 22AMoney in the bank
- 23ADismiss, facially
- 27ADivisions
- 31A"Cool!"
- 32AEvening shifts: Abbr.
- 35ADrive-in artsy business where you grab your easel and never have to leave the car
- 38ARevealing cries
- 40AGood last name for a boxer or fisherman
- 41AArid
- 42ASmall cutting instruments designed specifically to make small identifying incisions in wood
- 45AOfficer's address
- 46AOil drum type of band
- 47AAsk for cash
- 49AAndy and Cherry
- 52ACharlotte ___ (dessert)
- 56ATroubles listening to herald angels singing
- 60APlay a non-speaking part
- 63AAppropriately named cartoonist Edward
- 64AExam for an aspiring atty.
- 65AWho got shot if I shot the Sharif
- 66AFinancial guru Suze
- 67AWoeful words
- 68AProbably forever
- 69AData collected, often rapidly
- 70ABack of the neck
Down
- 1DLow life?
- 2DO'Hara homestead and namesakes
- 3DPenitent people
- 4DTwins: look ___
- 5DWill's river
- 6DCalculator toting, pocket protector wearing epitome (or simply, me in college)
- 7DThings that, once opened. you can find yourself caught
- 8DAllen of furniture fame
- 9DBlack bits on your pastrami sandwich
- 10D"Dig in!"
- 11DMs. Lovelace
- 12DCruces or Vegas
- 14D"Don't stop me now, I'm ___ roll" (preferably a bagel)
- 20DPart of a process
- 21DFind your way through
- 24DHardest to find coins in collector lingo
- 25DThey don't make Pings but they made Pong
- 26DStructure aware of the plane truth
- 28D"High Hopes" lyricist
- 29DNot surprisingly, Joan Crawford's final film
- 30DSmall amount
- 32DRequest at a Asian restaurant
- 33D"Ain't ___ shame", Fats Domino
- 34DMadder than before
- 36DJapanese electronics giant known for their music keyboards
- 37DColorful salamander
- 39DPopular "slip-in" sports shoes
- 43DA set of hip bones
- 44DHang ten
- 48DDon, as boots
- 50DJason's ship and all its namesakes
- 51DCulottes kin
- 53DMalia's sister
- 54DNickname for the University of Florida stadium
- 55DSomeone who is quite a bit Lauder
- 57DHogwart's librarian Pince or Parisian evening worker la Douce
- 58DDisallowing ice
- 59DFemale doctor
- 60DAfter his death, the Pep Boy's Manny and Jack had to sadly say, "There ain't no ___"
- 61DI think (in text - and I am certainly not humble)
- 62DCreature with over 98% of the same DNA structure as a Bonobo