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· By Pandora's Blocks Meta Crosswords · Published 2023-02-05T14:00:34.414Z

Meta Prompt
The answer to this week's meta is a four-letter word.
Thanks for solving! You can find all 100 Pandora's Blocks puzzles here: https://crosshare.org/PBWMC.
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • raceyamatt solved 2023-02-05T14:12:01.119Z
  • ChrisCross solved 2023-02-05T14:12:27.519Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2023-02-05T14:20:19.757Z
  • Tom Moose solved 2023-02-05T14:35:34.770Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2023-02-05T14:38:55.336Z
  • Meg solved 2023-02-05T14:39:45.898Z
  • Capn Rick solved 2023-02-05T14:47:49.282Z
  • RPardoe solved 2023-02-05T14:49:58.358Z
  • Mwoychick solved 2023-02-05T14:54:39.923Z
  • JM solved 2023-02-05T14:58:20.945Z
  • oldjudge solved 2023-02-05T15:05:33.232Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2023-02-05T15:12:45.062Z
  • Qmark solved 2023-02-05T15:14:06.469Z
  • Toast solved 2023-02-05T15:15:58.712Z
  • Alex Sisti solved 2023-02-05T15:21:32.119Z
  • Gutman solved 2023-02-05T15:25:53.619Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2023-02-05T15:29:42.974Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2023-02-05T15:38:14.346Z
  • boharr solved 2023-02-05T15:41:09.591Z
  • Bbaack solved 2023-02-05T15:42:59.748Z
  • Jeffrey solved 2023-02-05T15:44:32.528Z
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  • dannyvee solved 2023-02-05T15:54:58.061Z
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  • hashbrown solved 2023-02-05T15:58:03.614Z
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  • TheFusionMoose solved 2023-02-05T16:02:53.781Z
  • Dave C solved 2023-02-05T16:05:49.275Z
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  • Matt A solved 2023-02-05T16:52:56.682Z
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  • Ryley solved 2023-02-05T16:58:00.167Z
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  • rjy solved 2023-02-05T17:42:50.546Z
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  • Bird Lives solved 2023-02-05T18:47:56.160Z
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  • Laura M solved 2023-02-05T19:43:13.681Z
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  • ReB solved 2023-02-06T03:04:28.523Z
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  • THC solved 2023-02-06T12:51:20.636Z
  • Joe solved 2023-02-06T14:54:03.781Z
  • The Lefthanded Dane solved 2023-02-06T16:59:57.080Z
  • MatthewL solved 2023-02-06T17:02:24.793Z
  • Anonymous Crossharer solved 2023-02-06T19:16:14.762Z
  • Helena solved 2023-02-06T19:46:35.144Z
  • andeux solved 2023-02-06T20:24:21.990Z
  • LB800 solved 2023-02-06T21:17:01.613Z
  • K7 solved 2023-02-06T22:13:46.349Z
  • Teresa solved 2023-02-06T22:48:40.173Z
  • William D solved 2023-02-07T01:29:38.481Z
  • hazmat solved 2023-02-07T02:57:42.472Z
  • frostyjhammer solved 2023-02-07T05:30:25.277Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2023-02-07T07:50:45.080Z
  • Brendan W Sullivan solved 2023-02-07T19:07:50.855Z
  • Jessica Schirle solved 2023-02-07T22:25:35.579Z
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  • okjb solved 2023-02-08T02:19:40.008Z
  • Rand solved 2023-02-08T04:37:35.442Z
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  • RC solved 2023-02-09T00:46:52.656Z
  • Matt M solved 2023-02-09T15:04:22.533Z
  • MARR71 solved 2023-02-09T17:16:01.423Z
  • Becky solved 2023-02-09T17:25:17.906Z
  • Gabby solved 2023-02-09T17:30:34.898Z
  • MrTheHan solved 2023-02-09T17:37:10.702Z
  • somylai solved 2023-02-10T00:18:24.023Z
  • Jeff G solved 2023-02-10T03:23:46.017Z
  • KathleenTM solved 2023-02-10T13:32:51.176Z
  • DrTom solved 2023-02-10T17:04:12.914Z
  • Darrell solved 2023-02-11T00:35:07.779Z
  • Meta World Peace solved 2023-02-11T02:25:56.523Z
  • Joshua solved 2023-02-11T03:38:43.565Z
  • Byron solved 2023-02-11T04:28:42.744Z
  • Jimmy James solved 2023-02-11T19:40:54.778Z
  • MARICH solved 2023-02-11T23:26:35.770Z
  • Bonnie solved 2023-02-12T00:36:21.767Z
  • JeffPrug solved 2023-02-12T03:09:28.328Z
  • Burakodrama solved 2023-02-12T06:07:55.703Z
  • Katiedid solved 2023-02-16T15:34:03.484Z
  • Caroline solved 2023-03-06T04:57:32.353Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2023-03-13T01:17:42.956Z
  • em solved 2023-03-13T17:57:04.738Z
  • AT solved 2023-05-27T15:33:39.746Z
  • Lucas solved 2023-06-05T02:17:06.267Z
  • nikhilisvalid solved 2024-03-05T21:46:03.062Z
  • coffeeandcrosswords solved 2024-07-29T02:06:06.762Z

Comments

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  • ChrisCross 🤓7:26 · 2023-02-05T14:12:57.657Z
    Fun!
    • oldjudge 2s · 2023-02-05T15:09:47.290Z
      I wish I found some tax write-offs that quickly.
      • Mwoychick 🤓10:09 · 2023-02-05T14:55:58.552Z
        Fun and clever puzzle, Will - cool mechanism and execution. And I didn't get it until I wrote it down on a scratchpad!
        • Capn Rick 🤓8:43 · 2023-02-05T14:48:02.780Z
          Nice one, Will!
          • I K Snamhcok 1s · 2023-02-05T15:14:45.940Z
            Thanks, Will, for this fun distraction from the head cold I’ve somehow picked up — the first I’ve had since before Covid.
            • Alex Sisti 3s · 2023-02-05T15:23:30.718Z
              My other guess was TONE, which is the word formed from the changed letter, in "STING/TOONS/NORTE/SEEIN" order. Great meta!
              • Pandora's Blocks Weekly Meta Crossword constructor · 2023-02-05T18:47:41.067Z
                Shoot, that's a valid answer and a bad oversight by me. Sorry to the folks that got hung up on this!
                • Charles Montpetit 🤓1:26 · 2023-02-05T22:45:14.640Z
                  I too ended up with TONE... but I must have absentmindedly entered NOTE in order to end up here, because I fail to see how else one can arrive at the latter. Other than subconsciously feeling that NOTE is more appropriate (because it alludes to a notepad), what is the mechanism which confirms that this is the "right" answer?
            • Gutman 2s · 2023-02-05T15:27:59.636Z
              Well done.
              • Qmark 5s · 2023-02-05T15:14:29.781Z
                Thanks Will!
                • boharr 2s · 2023-02-05T15:41:37.626Z
                  Thanks, Will.
                  • DebbieC 🤓10:32 · 2023-02-05T15:55:59.317Z
                    Lovely construction. Fresh take on tried and true metanisms!
                    • Bbaack 🤓12:26 · 2023-02-05T15:43:36.399Z
                      Nice one, thanks!
                      • Cindy Heisler 2s · 2023-02-05T16:13:03.359Z
                        Fun! Thanks, Will.
                        • ajk 🤓7:22 · 2023-02-05T16:13:13.622Z
                          Very fun, thanks.
                          • Tyrpmom 2s · 2023-02-05T17:38:41.094Z
                            Very clever.
                            • Sfull411 4:23 · 2023-02-05T18:15:02.142Z
                              Thank you!
                              • Bird Lives 3s · 2023-02-05T18:49:30.661Z
                                Nice puzzle. Logical construction. I entered a wrong answer at first. Now I know why those nubs are on the F and J.
                                • Darth 🤓13:39 · 2023-02-05T19:48:30.976Z
                                  Nice! The meta hint at 34A was a clear directive on what to do! ;)
                                  • whimsy 🤓11:51 · 2023-02-05T19:56:48.698Z
                                    A couple of wrong 'uns -- first because I couldn't keep my story straight, and then TONE -- wasn't concerned because the alternative route was right there and NOTE made a lot more sense. Liked it a lot in any case -- Thanks Will!
                                    • Laura M 🤓16:04 · 2023-02-05T19:44:43.903Z
                                      Loved it! Ironically, solved on my phone without writing anything down :-)
                                      • Carolyn 4s · 2023-02-05T20:19:30.797Z
                                        Also fell into the TONE trap! Note does make more sense though.
                                        • T. G. 🤓9:04 · 2023-02-05T23:09:16.262Z
                                          Oh my God I finally got a meta right
                                          • ReB 4s · 2023-02-06T03:19:25.963Z
                                            As others have noted, I also found that the mechanism yielded two possible answers, but fortunately I started with NOTE as that seemed more in accord with WRITE and SCRATCH PAD. (TONE seemed to be too far a stretch, e.g. "tone of voice" as a way to "write off" something??)
                                            The mechanism was very well in keeping with the central hint. Nice meta.
                                            • THC 🤓4:14 · 2023-02-06T12:54:43.655Z
                                              Well done, Will!
                                              • Joe 🤓6:30 · 2023-02-06T14:55:36.046Z
                                                I also had the NOTE/TONE conundrum, but NOTE seemed much more appropriate to the meta's vibe.
                                                • MatthewL 🤓6:22 · 2023-02-06T17:04:26.200Z
                                                  Fun one. Took a second, but finally got it. Thanks!
                                                  • William D 🤓7:45 · 2023-02-07T01:29:59.998Z
                                                    Thanks for another fun one!
                                                    • hazmat 🤓6:36 · 2023-02-07T02:59:10.339Z
                                                      Thanks!
                                                      • Jeff G 5s · 2023-02-10T03:26:43.881Z
                                                        Excellent! Love the multi-step metas.
                                                        • DrTom 3s · 2023-02-10T17:06:06.298Z
                                                          As I sat there composing a PM to Will because I was lost, lost, lost I saw the PADS and then it all became clear and MUCH less complicated than I was making it of course, It is always good to write things down on a scratch pad, or a PM as it turns out. Nice AHA Will.
                                                          • Meta World Peace 4s · 2023-02-11T02:34:38.524Z
                                                            A ton(e) of fun and not(e) too many scribbles required on my scratch pad to figure out this week's puzzle--thanks, Will!
                                                            • Joshua 🤓4:28 · 2023-02-11T03:44:34.183Z
                                                              Nice! I got TONE at first but it wasn't a very satisfying answer so I realized NOTE must be correct :)
                                                              1A
                                                              Feb. setting in Seattle
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                                                              Across
                                                              1. 1A
                                                                Feb. setting in Seattle
                                                              2. 4A
                                                                Website where you can find a review for "The Godfather" titled "a bunch of Italians mumble to each other while dealing with daddy issues"
                                                              3. 8A
                                                                Rickman's "Harry Potter" role
                                                              4. 13A
                                                                Nail polish brand with the colors "I'm Not Really a Waitress" and "Got Myself into a Jam-balaya"
                                                              5. 14A
                                                                "The ___ the merrier"
                                                              6. 15A
                                                                Rival of a Flame
                                                              7. 16A
                                                                Like restaurants with a 5-star average on Yelp
                                                              8. 18A
                                                                Sensation imparted by a jellyfish
                                                              9. 19A
                                                                Append
                                                              10. 20A
                                                                Baloney producer, perhaps
                                                              11. 22A
                                                                "The Simpsons" or "Tom and Jerry", e.g.
                                                              12. 23A
                                                                Some airport security checks
                                                              13. 27A
                                                                Bills for making it rain (if you're like me and you can't afford to actually make it rain)
                                                              14. 28A
                                                                Some parents
                                                              15. 29A
                                                                Ump's cry
                                                              16. 30A
                                                                Cash dispensers
                                                              17. 32A
                                                                Photoshop creator
                                                              18. 34A
                                                                Item on the desk of many a meta solver and constructor... and aptly enough, a hint to the meta
                                                              19. 37A
                                                                Like some bourbons
                                                              20. 39A
                                                                Activist Bridges who wrote "Through My Eyes"
                                                              21. 40A
                                                                Boob
                                                              22. 41A
                                                                Hurdle for a future attorney
                                                              23. 43A
                                                                Hurdle for a future doctor
                                                              24. 47A
                                                                Brand name seen on many basketballs
                                                              25. 50A
                                                                La dirección opuesta al sur
                                                              26. 51A
                                                                Maker of vacuum insulated mugs
                                                              27. 52A
                                                                Current
                                                              28. 53A
                                                                Michelob ___
                                                              29. 56A
                                                                Added, as a picture to an email draft
                                                              30. 58A
                                                                Welcome at the door
                                                              31. 59A
                                                                Puts dish soap in the dishwasher, say
                                                              32. 60A
                                                                Yes, to François
                                                              33. 61A
                                                                GMs, for example
                                                              34. 62A
                                                                Take back, as a bank might
                                                              35. 63A
                                                                Texting format: Abbr.
                                                              Down
                                                              1. 1D
                                                                Main ingredient in gnocchi
                                                              2. 2D
                                                                Exactly right
                                                              3. 3D
                                                                Strive to move silently, say
                                                              4. 4D
                                                                Apple desktops
                                                              5. 5D
                                                                Drab cousin of a butterfly
                                                              6. 6D
                                                                Beats by ___
                                                              7. 7D
                                                                Pandemonium
                                                              8. 8D
                                                                "Alas!"
                                                              9. 9D
                                                                Word associated with Guinness or cold brew coffee
                                                              10. 10D
                                                                Comedian Wong of "Always Be My Maybe"
                                                              11. 11D
                                                                Item not to be used on a Scantron sheet
                                                              12. 12D
                                                                Exercise equipment manufactured by Concept2
                                                              13. 17D
                                                                Pillage
                                                              14. 21D
                                                                "For what ___ worth"
                                                              15. 23D
                                                                Mailbox's support
                                                              16. 24D
                                                                Campfire fuel
                                                              17. 25D
                                                                One is often found on F and J
                                                              18. 26D
                                                                Sault ___ Marie, Ontario
                                                              19. 28D
                                                                Sport that takes place in a cage
                                                              20. 31D
                                                                Attempt
                                                              21. 32D
                                                                Audio update on a criminal
                                                              22. 33D
                                                                Phone setting that emits more blue light than its alternative
                                                              23. 34D
                                                                Couch
                                                              24. 35D
                                                                Rocky cliff
                                                              25. 36D
                                                                Shack
                                                              26. 37D
                                                                Sign of distress
                                                              27. 38D
                                                                Orienteer's need
                                                              28. 41D
                                                                Like some candles or parties
                                                              29. 42D
                                                                Expert marksman
                                                              30. 44D
                                                                Guiding principles
                                                              31. 45D
                                                                Glass-covered room, often
                                                              32. 46D
                                                                Osaka's sport
                                                              33. 48D
                                                                "You can check out any time you like / But you can never leave", for one
                                                              34. 49D
                                                                Some campus leaders
                                                              35. 50D
                                                                "That's what they want you to think!"
                                                              36. 52D
                                                                $27,750 for a 2023 Toyota Tacoma, as of this puzzle's release
                                                              37. 53D
                                                                Employ
                                                              38. 54D
                                                                Supervillain Luthor
                                                              39. 55D
                                                                ___ box (golfer's starting spot)
                                                              40. 57D
                                                                "The gloves ___ off"
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