"Muscle Contraction" (Meta)

◆ · By DavyGravy · Published 2024-10-28T08:00:30.089Z

Meta Prompt

The meta answer is a five letter word

Hi Fellow Muggles! DavyGravy here. I'm not really sure how or why I got that tasty screen name. I like gravy - but enough to make it my name? Oh well I'll stick with it. You can call me Dave. I am excited to provide you with my debut meta puzzle here on MMM. This site has provided me with oodles of puzzling pleasure over the years so I am glad to give back. The idea came to me as I attended my son's weight lifting competition. I hope you find this puzzle to be fun and entertaining as you exercise your "mental muscle". Thanks to @Abide for polishing the rough edges and to @Joe Ross for tech support. Nudges on Wednesday and leaderboard updates during the week. Solution on Sunday. Now it's time to get off the couch and hit those weights!

Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

Anonymous Crossharer solved 2024-10-20T17:18:31.899Z
Pair O Ducks solved 2024-10-28T11:22:34.321Z
benchen71 solved 2024-10-28T11:43:44.533Z
LarsCaine solved 2024-10-28T11:59:01.337Z
Morendil solved 2024-10-28T12:07:04.667Z
JM solved 2024-10-28T12:59:29.756Z
Capn Rick solved 2024-10-28T13:11:12.514Z
Darth solved 2024-10-28T13:19:15.139Z
DCBilly solved 2024-10-28T13:50:18.685Z
DIS solved 2024-10-28T13:50:58.235Z
rjy solved 2024-10-28T14:20:18.966Z
boharr solved 2024-10-28T14:22:49.348Z
MatthewL solved 2024-10-28T14:24:14.709Z
imontoo solved 2024-10-28T14:35:37.483Z
Hector solved 2024-10-28T14:47:44.945Z
KayW solved 2024-10-28T14:56:58.219Z
dannyvee solved 2024-10-28T14:58:39.060Z
Schmeel solved 2024-10-28T15:00:43.420Z
Eric Porter solved 2024-10-28T15:00:48.861Z
Meg solved 2024-10-28T15:07:21.351Z
woozy solved 2024-10-28T15:16:26.153Z
Serafin solved 2024-10-28T15:26:46.997Z
Cindy Weatherman solved 2024-10-28T16:02:47.528Z
Carolyn solved 2024-10-28T16:32:22.877Z
antdisp solved 2024-10-28T16:40:27.805Z
heidi solved 2024-10-28T16:41:31.278Z
markhr solved 2024-10-28T16:48:48.362Z
TerminatorX solved 2024-10-28T17:12:02.868Z
DrTom solved 2024-10-28T17:32:10.038Z
iceman solved 2024-10-28T17:38:26.607Z
bhamren solved 2024-10-28T17:40:39.682Z
Johnny Luau solved 2024-10-28T17:40:43.812Z
Jaclyn solved 2024-10-28T18:03:26.621Z
BarbaraK solved 2024-10-28T18:40:31.865Z
hoover solved 2024-10-28T18:59:37.161Z
david solved 2024-10-28T19:19:00.560Z
Tom Wilson solved 2024-10-28T19:24:57.681Z
Wendy Walker solved 2024-10-28T19:37:27.113Z
michaelm solved 2024-10-28T19:46:00.877Z
Bird Lives solved 2024-10-28T19:59:35.726Z
JakeDaSnake solved 2024-10-28T20:34:21.355Z
Anita and Steve solved 2024-10-28T20:50:21.051Z
Berto solved 2024-10-28T21:16:08.548Z
TEngstrom solved 2024-10-28T21:21:29.227Z
LB800 solved 2024-10-28T21:23:14.371Z
Cindy Heisler solved 2024-10-28T22:05:18.876Z
Mwoychick solved 2024-10-28T22:15:08.108Z
I K Snamhcok solved 2024-10-28T22:35:17.024Z
DebbieC solved 2024-10-29T00:08:00.154Z
Gutman solved 2024-10-29T00:48:36.910Z
Tyrpmom solved 2024-10-29T00:57:09.446Z
lbray53 solved 2024-10-29T01:14:18.400Z
CPJohnson solved 2024-10-29T01:14:18.504Z
Kulea solved 2024-10-29T01:37:00.754Z
rvkal solved 2024-10-29T01:44:44.699Z
azaEnolate solved 2024-10-29T03:12:01.011Z
AuLeaf solved 2024-10-29T03:29:14.956Z
Avlan solved 2024-10-29T12:05:47.990Z
whimsy solved 2024-10-29T14:31:33.546Z
kurtalert solved 2024-10-29T15:24:21.374Z
ajk solved 2024-10-29T15:28:46.885Z
Chris Barbee solved 2024-10-29T15:44:23.553Z
Jeremy Smith solved 2024-10-29T17:16:27.515Z
Susan solved 2024-10-29T19:16:31.154Z
Steve M solved 2024-10-29T19:57:07.307Z
minimuggle solved 2024-10-29T21:29:45.701Z
edestlin solved 2024-10-29T23:28:13.836Z
Abide solved 2024-10-30T03:09:03.771Z
Mr Tex solved 2024-10-30T16:13:05.999Z
Mikey G solved 2024-10-31T19:04:57.685Z
JHSeeman solved 2024-11-01T21:00:21.919Z
ReB solved 2024-11-02T20:06:32.778Z
David solved 2024-11-04T02:23:54.428Z
Qmark solved 2024-11-04T05:17:03.947Z
dooiemus solved 2024-11-04T07:56:03.548Z
omnilynx solved 2024-11-07T22:22:47.448Z
Sharkicicles solved 2024-11-13T19:58:44.391Z

Comments

Morendil 🤓14:16 · 2024-10-28T12:10:45.905Z
Fun metanism and an answer that fits neatly with the theme ! I picked how to do the first step while filling the grid with [36A] but the second step was a bit harder. I found the RIDER/CUT connection less clear than the others.
- hoover 7s · 2024-10-28T19:03:56.016Z
  The connection is that both ROUGH CUT and ROUGH RIDER are idiomatic phrases, at least in the U.S. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rough_cut is a film term. The Rough Riders were a cavalry unit led by future president Theodore Roosevelt; the term has other meanings as well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rough_Riders_(disambiguation)
  - DavyGravy constructor · 2024-10-28T22:02:22.609Z
    Perfect explanation Hoover. Thank you!
Darth 🤓12:55 · 2024-10-28T13:19:55.321Z
Nice debut puz, Dave! Hope you'll do more. :D
Capn Rick 🤓8:53 · 2024-10-28T13:13:57.913Z
Excellent debut, Dave! Keep 'em comin'! We're always looking for new constructors' metas at SSS too.
imontoo 3s · 2024-10-28T14:36:09.229Z
Enjoyed it, Dave! Thanks!
MatthewL 🤓7:26 · 2024-10-28T14:26:43.179Z
Lovely debut, Dave! Clean grid, clever cluing and a nice mechanism. Thanks for the puzzle!
- DavyGravy constructor · 2024-10-28T22:08:14.562Z
  Thank you! I learned something about Ty Cobb and about our Olympic prowess!
boharr 4s · 2024-10-28T14:23:41.471Z
A very fine and fun debut. Thank you.
KayW 🤓3:13 · 2024-10-28T15:00:30.858Z
Wonderful debut meta, Davy!! LOL I spent more time than I'd like to admit wondering what or who the heck INRA is LOL. (and that's completely on me, not you, of course) Hope this is the first of many metas - thanks!
- DavyGravy constructor · 2024-10-28T22:03:20.496Z
  Thanks Kay! Just curious-where did you enter INRA?
  - kurtalert 🤓6:37 · 2024-10-29T15:28:03.206Z
    A few of your themers had alternate ways of contracting to the muscle- TRAINRAP could take the TRA from the front and the P from the end, and you're left with INRA in the middle... or TR from the front and AP from the back, and you have AINR. GLENSLUTE had the same thing going on- you can get to ENSL as your middle letters.
    - KayW 🤓3:13 · 2024-10-29T23:29:20.967Z
      YEP - and leave it to me to not see the "sensible" way for quite a while :D
Meg 2s · 2024-10-28T15:08:09.509Z
Great debut! Nice twist on the letter order.
- DavyGravy constructor · 2024-10-28T22:07:13.514Z
  CRAMP is spelled in order from top to bottom. Is that what you mean?
Hector 🤓9:56 · 2024-10-28T14:51:12.550Z
Tricky step! Well done.
woozy 23:06 · 2024-10-28T15:16:55.906Z
Nice debut!
Carolyn 3s · 2024-10-28T16:33:22.907Z
Excellent!
DrTom 3s · 2024-10-28T17:36:48.051Z
Really nice job of tying the meta to the title and hiding the words within the words. It probably was not lost on many that your graphic depicts the muscle groups being exercised - nice! Luckily I knew who Hector "Macho" Camacho is so that my EROS for Cupid did not confuse me long (I thought for a minute people were getting paid in CELERY and Pirate costumes included a CASK).

Enjoyed it immensely and I am having a hard time grasping that this was your FIRST - EXCELLENT
- DavyGravy constructor · 2024-10-28T22:04:12.327Z
  Haha! Funny post Tom. We’ve all been there!
Wendy Walker 3s · 2024-10-28T19:37:57.992Z
Astonishing debut, Dave! Wonderful puzzle!
michaelm 🤓10:36 · 2024-10-28T19:56:12.100Z
Excellent MMM Dave! Glad for the mental exercise and not to have suffered days of brain cramping. Next time we are stuck with Isaac on the WSJCC, I'll cover your bar bell, er bill. Thanks and hope to see more!
- DavyGravy constructor · 2024-10-28T22:04:27.998Z
  You’re on!!!
Bird Lives 4s · 2024-10-28T20:04:01.471Z
Never having lifted a weight, I found it comforting that the important part was the part that was not muscle. I did once tear my gastrocnemius so I kept looking for it in the grid and not finding it. Nice puzzle. I hope you'll be in the starting rotation from here on.
- DavyGravy constructor · 2024-10-28T22:05:53.201Z
  If I ever do another muscle themed puzzle, I’ll try to fit it in. It’s 13 letters so you never know!
Tyrpmom 🤓26:02 · 2024-10-29T00:58:00.925Z
Flawless execution. Congratulations.
lbray53 3s · 2024-10-29T01:15:51.326Z
Great debut! Give this guy his own Muggle category right now.
- Abide 5s · 2024-10-30T03:15:15.923Z
  "The Gravy Train" has been bookmarked!
whimsy 14:07 · 2024-10-29T14:35:17.373Z
Definitely out of my wheelhouse but still able to enjoy it greatly! Excellent first! Thanks, Dave!
hoover 7s · 2024-10-28T19:00:36.756Z
Well done! Title matches the metanism and the meta answer, themers are clearly spottable and symmetrical, all the things I'm looking for in a meta.
kurtalert 🤓6:37 · 2024-10-29T15:24:32.069Z
Great first puzzle - thank you!
ajk 🤓11:13 · 2024-10-29T15:31:58.007Z
Late to the party (as I have been all semester it seems), but insta-solve once I got around to it (spotted G[LENS]LUTE while filing the grid). Very tidy indeed, especially for a debut. Fun stuff, thanks. :)
- DavyGravy constructor · 2024-10-29T16:13:35.559Z
  Yeah I knew GLENSLUTE would be the main giveaway. I liked that entry because he was an amazing guitarist so playing a lute is not really not a reach.
Steve M 42:38 · 2024-10-29T20:00:57.099Z
Very nice puzzle! Thank you!
ReB 6:06 · 2024-11-02T20:12:25.635Z
Enjoyable puzzle with a well-executed mechanism. The title was very helpful - first in leading me to look for a contraction of the name of a muscle within the themers. And once I saw that the remaining letters were words, then the succeeding steps played out as expected - with the answer again related to the title. Very well done. I did this on the recommendation of the Friday Zoom group, and it was well worth my while.
David 🤓5:53 · 2024-11-04T02:24:33.569Z
Fun!
Qmark 2s · 2024-11-04T05:17:28.523Z
Got to the puzzle late...no nudges needed. Thanks Dave!

Play today's daily mini crossword

Rough___

Across

1A
Rough___
4A
Cable channel launched in 1979
8A
"Take ___ I Am"
12A
Part of many pirate costumes
13A
Adventurer Croft
14A
Tennis term
15A
Cupid's alias
16A
State of Quebec?
17A
Career peaks
18A
Old pro running the light show?
20A
Soprano Renata from Italy
21A
Was sore after a gym workout
22A
Eminem performance on Amtrak?
24A
P for Pythagoras
25A
Ted played him on "Cheers"
28A
Farm female
29A
Coldplay's "The Blue Room" and others
30A
Let loose a holler
32A
Durango digs
34A
Any ship
36A
Musician Campbell's medieval instrument?
39A
"Bali ___ "
40A
Unwelcome picnic sight
41A
Cheese that's made backwards?
45A
Stage's Hagen
47A
Short smoke?
49A
7' 6" NBA star Ming
51A
An ex of Frank, Mickey, and Artie
52A
Group of lions' leisure time?
55A
Try to buy at auction
57A
Organic compound
58A
Tirade over pastrami thickness?
61A
Bagnold and Blyton
62A
Indie pop singer Parks
63A
UN member with an equal number of vowels and consonants
64A
French floor
65A
First professional athlete to star in a movie (1917)
66A
His dad was Zeus
67A
Something to look through
68A
Cousin of ROFL
69A
RR stop

Down

1D
Boxing champ with a manly nickname
2D
Entertainment for the GIs
3D
Number of capital cities in South Africa
4D
Mtn. meas.
5D
Gorge
6D
Art Institute in Brooklyn
7D
Turner of a rebellion
8D
Georgia's fourth largest city
9D
Stately shade source
10D
Pub fixture
11D
Online admins
12D
Earnings
14D
Least likely to get a G rating
19D
GPS display
20D
"I ___ Her Standing There" (first song on the Beatles' first album)
23D
Condos, cottages, etc.
26D
Frehley of Kiss
27D
Supervise
31D
NYC airport
33D
IRS ID
35D
Buck Owens' series "___ Haw"
37D
Permit to drive?
38D
Nation that has won the most medals in Olympic history with 3,095 (abbr.)
39D
Papa Doc, e.g.
42D
Duchamp output
43D
"Anne of Green Gables" setting
44D
Insect whose name means prophet
45D
Overhead
46D
Tre times dieci
48D
It may be aroused
50D
___ Wan, Luke's mentor in "Star Wars"
53D
Evade, as a question
54D
PC drive insert
56D
Rombauer and La Douce
59D
Star of "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom"
60D
Western wolf
62D
Patella neighbor, in brief