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Before and After

· By DrTom · Published 2023-05-11T16:38:02.837Z

Meta Prompt
The meta answer is a popular frozen dessert
Off to a slow start and I see a lot of missed guesses. Not the fault of the solvers, more the bad assumptions by the creator, so, how about some nudges!
Nudge 1: I have already mentioned this, but to reiterate, the answer is not spelled out, it is implied.
Nudge 2: "before and after" refers to the position of each part of the answer (which happens 4 times)
Nudge 3: There are certain words that you see that immediately bring to mind other words
Nudge 4: What was the first thing that popped into your head when you read clue 21A and filled in the answer
Nudge 5: Ditto the above for 49A, did you say "Oh yes, the Spanish Explorer
Nudge 6: In a similar manner, have you ever been to or seen pictures of the beach in Nice, France? If you ever go, bring something to lay on
Nudge 7: The applicable clues are worded in a manner so as to try to force your mind to a certain answer while still answering the clue
Nudge 8: The Meta related answers are not QUITE symmetric because I could not find words of the appropriate length to fit, but they are close and all follow the same exact convention
Nudge 9: Depending on where you are, names can evoke a completely different response. If I am in Panama and say "Balboa" people picture the explorer who first laid eye on the Pacific Ocean. If I am in Philadelphia the response is COMPLETELY different
THE REVEAL - Solution to the Meta
There were 4 different sets of clue answers that would have provided the meta answer:
20A SQUIRREL and 21A ABBEY
25A HORROR and 28A ACCESS
49A BALBOA and 50A TOBACCO
59A BEACH and 60A MAIN
Each set of words can have ROCKY "Before" the first and ROAD "After" the second to give the meta answer ROCKY ROAD
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • DIS solved 2023-05-11T20:43:33.913Z
  • whimsy solved 2023-05-12T02:00:57.140Z
  • DJB solved 2023-05-12T11:43:52.746Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2023-05-12T14:20:03.438Z
  • boharr solved 2023-05-12T14:20:31.961Z
  • Katiedid solved 2023-05-12T17:17:44.053Z
  • hoover solved 2023-05-12T22:13:24.876Z
  • Meg solved 2023-05-12T22:42:04.827Z
  • Carolyn solved 2023-05-12T22:48:35.658Z
  • ReB solved 2023-05-12T22:55:48.046Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2023-05-12T22:56:17.931Z
  • MatthewL solved 2023-05-12T23:02:08.429Z
  • DebbieC solved 2023-05-12T23:48:54.947Z
  • Laura M solved 2023-05-13T00:00:04.597Z
  • markhr solved 2023-05-13T00:01:14.136Z
  • Slime Hudson solved 2023-05-13T00:51:50.001Z
  • KayW solved 2023-05-13T01:30:59.598Z
  • michaelm solved 2023-05-13T01:32:01.547Z
  • BarbaraK solved 2023-05-13T01:51:53.585Z
  • woozy solved 2023-05-13T02:32:00.359Z
  • clev solved 2023-05-13T03:24:54.595Z
  • Hector solved 2023-05-13T13:33:24.684Z
  • Jake A solved 2023-05-13T16:55:00.270Z
  • andeux solved 2023-05-13T17:22:57.136Z
  • Alvibu67 solved 2023-05-14T01:30:14.676Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2023-05-14T18:55:57.009Z
  • rdavey1287 solved 2023-05-14T22:10:53.671Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2023-05-15T13:58:37.852Z
  • Mikey G solved 2023-05-15T21:44:50.624Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2023-05-15T23:12:07.269Z
  • Darrell solved 2023-05-16T03:51:46.864Z
  • rjy solved 2023-05-16T14:56:25.654Z
  • Mortdestro solved 2023-05-18T14:49:45.186Z
  • frostyjhammer solved 2023-05-18T16:00:13.024Z
  • ChrisCross solved 2023-05-18T17:06:09.351Z
  • supercruciverbalistic solved 2023-05-18T18:20:13.075Z
  • maturin solved 2023-05-18T18:43:56.566Z
  • Jessica Schirle solved 2023-05-19T05:28:22.393Z
  • Julie bookworm solved 2023-05-20T00:59:21.233Z
  • lisajay solved 2023-05-20T07:05:03.407Z
  • Jimbo solved 2023-05-20T16:13:46.959Z
  • Tane solved 2023-05-22T22:31:04.104Z
  • Lucas solved 2023-09-24T18:26:22.069Z

Comments

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  • DIS 🤓6:20 · 2023-05-11T20:44:17.765Z
    I gotta stop solving these before dinner. But great puzzle!
    • boharr 3s · 2023-05-12T14:21:04.165Z
      Thanks, DrTom.
      • Katiedid 🤓14:46 · 2023-05-12T17:26:23.962Z
        Fun puzzle! I solved the meta, so can I ask a question about it or do I need to wait until a deadline is over?
        • whimsy 🤓12:39 · 2023-05-12T18:49:01.692Z
          Spoilers are OK here because to get this far, you need to have solved (or peeked.) You can PM DrTom or just wait till the solution is posted on the Muggles forum if you want to share with all later.
        • Carolyn 3s · 2023-05-12T22:51:06.966Z
          Needed the nudges, even though I tried to make it harder than it was. Fun puzzle.
          • ReB 5s · 2023-05-12T22:58:45.609Z
            Got it with the second nudge, when the AHA moment hit me as I visualized eating some ice cream...(or should that be the AAH moment)
            • DrTom constructor · 2023-05-13T03:36:45.490Z
              Could be either, you know how fond we constructors are about playing with letters! Thanks for solving
            • MatthewL 🤓6:43 · 2023-05-12T23:02:35.661Z
              Needed the nudges, but once you see it, it is pretty clear. Thanks Tom!
              • DrTom constructor · 2023-05-13T03:38:11.569Z
                I was sure that the moment people say Squirrel and Balboa they would say ROCKY and then Abbey is soooo often a lead in to ROAD. Happy I could dish this one up.
              • Laura M 🤓12:27 · 2023-05-13T00:00:59.945Z
                Somehow I missed this before! Fun one!
                • DrTom constructor · 2023-05-13T03:38:53.777Z
                  It came out late because there was somehting else that was not a Meta on the MEOW and people wanted a meta. Glad you doubled back.
                • KayW 🤓9:58 · 2023-05-13T01:31:56.279Z
                  I needed the nudges but a clever and tasty puzzle. Is it too late for dessert? Thanks Dr Tom!
                  • DrTom constructor · 2023-05-13T03:39:59.928Z
                    It's NEVER too late for ice cream!
                  • michaelm 🤓12:57 · 2023-05-13T01:46:00.692Z
                    Aaaah! Fine dessert with that Patagonian toothfish. Thanks, Dr Tom!
                    • DrTom constructor · 2023-05-13T03:40:34.329Z
                      It's one of the bass things you could have!
                    • Katiedid 🤓14:46 · 2023-05-13T12:51:06.291Z
                      I didn't need nudges, but was wondering if there were just the two sets of clues. I didn't look for more after finding them. I was going to comment nice puzzle, but then I thought the Nice BEACH could be a Rocky Road!
                      • DrTom constructor · 2023-05-13T13:28:08.375Z
                        There were 4 actually:
                        ROCKY Squirrel Abbey ROAD
                        ROCKY Horror Access ROAD
                        ROCKY Balboa Tobacco ROAD
                        ROCKY Beach Main ROAD
                        I'll admit the last two were the weakest tie-in, but that s why the clue for Beach read the way it did, Nice is famous for its beautiful expanse of beach along the Promenade de Anglais that is entirely made up of "galets" (a pretty word for little round stones). Each one of the theme answers were together and the ROCKY went before and the ROAD after
                      • Alvibu67 29s · 2023-05-14T01:39:27.451Z
                        Got it! Was making this far more difficult than it needed to be. Needed all the nudges and then some. Thanks, Dr. Tom!
                        • Cindy Heisler 2s · 2023-05-15T14:02:03.959Z
                          I didn't even realize that this MEOW was out there until this morning. It was one of my test solves, but just as enjoyable the second time around. Thanks, Dr Tom!
                          • Mikey G 9s · 2023-05-15T21:45:19.054Z
                            Ice cream for Tom's puzzles!
                            • rjy 3s · 2023-05-16T15:09:12.834Z
                              Loved it! Stymied by some incidental connections in the grid - KOOP and TOBACCO, (ROCKY) BALBOA and YOLKS, NAPALMS and COMBUSTION, FBOMB and SWEAR(BY) - but a SQUIRREL got me on the right path, albeit with a detour on ROCKY MDMA??? But 3 of the 4 took me to the finish line. Thanks, DrTom!
                              • supercruciverbalistic 🤓11:39 · 2023-05-18T18:21:18.549Z
                                fun puzzle. your nudges were very helpful!
                                1A
                                Noted cruciverbalist Reagle
                                1
                                2
                                3
                                4
                                5
                                6
                                7
                                8
                                9
                                10
                                11
                                12
                                13
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                                15
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                                17
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                                19
                                20
                                21
                                22
                                23
                                24
                                25
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                                28
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                                30
                                31
                                32
                                33
                                34
                                35
                                36
                                37
                                38
                                39
                                40
                                41
                                42
                                43
                                44
                                45
                                46
                                47
                                48
                                49
                                50
                                51
                                52
                                53
                                54
                                55
                                56
                                57
                                58
                                59
                                60
                                61
                                62
                                63
                                Across
                                1. 1A
                                  Noted cruciverbalist Reagle
                                2. 5A
                                  "Animal House" party wear
                                3. 10A
                                  Ponzi scheme, e.g.
                                4. 14A
                                  Faithful, in Frankfurt
                                5. 15A
                                  "Built like ___" (Sturdy)
                                6. 16A
                                  Lake in downtown Orlando created by a sinkhole
                                7. 17A
                                  Cocktail made with Bombay and Vermouth
                                8. 19A
                                  Love, in Lima
                                9. 20A
                                  Rodent that might be found on the ground, in a tree or flying
                                10. 21A
                                  British construction, like Westminster or Downton
                                11. 22A
                                  Like a 911 call: Abbr.
                                12. 23A
                                  Make less attractive?
                                13. 25A
                                  Cult movie like "Friday the 13th" genre
                                14. 28A
                                  Gain entrance to an area or thoroughfare
                                15. 29A
                                  Arab chieftain
                                16. 30A
                                  Caesar foe known as "The Censor"
                                17. 31A
                                  Knife
                                18. 34A
                                  Atlantic catch
                                19. 35A
                                  "Norma ___"
                                20. 36A
                                  Bank offering, for short
                                21. 37A
                                  Ex-Surgeon General
                                22. 39A
                                  Astin of "Lord of the Rings"
                                23. 40A
                                  Hair holder
                                24. 42A
                                  Characteristic of an acid
                                25. 44A
                                  This is a Twain that you would want to meet
                                26. 45A
                                  Handout: Var.
                                27. 48A
                                  Berth place
                                28. 49A
                                  Scrappy fighter and first to see the Pacific Ocean, 1513
                                29. 50A
                                  Addictive plant an area of North Carolina was famous for
                                30. 54A
                                  A Cyclops both has and does not have this
                                31. 55A
                                  Breathe new life into a project in London
                                32. 58A
                                  Chemical name of "Molly"
                                33. 59A
                                  Nice France has a famous, but quite uncomfortable, one
                                34. 60A
                                  Principal transit conduit for flow
                                35. 61A
                                  Cap'n's mate
                                36. 62A
                                  The "sunny" parts of eggs
                                37. 63A
                                  Meh!
                                Down
                                1. 1D
                                  Often described in minutes: Abbr.
                                2. 2D
                                  Actor LaSalle from "E.R."
                                3. 3D
                                  Bausch & Lomb contact solution
                                4. 4D
                                  Singing candelabra in "Beauty and the Beast"
                                5. 5D
                                  Roof worker
                                6. 6D
                                  Furry river acrobat
                                7. 7D
                                  Devers on the track
                                8. 8D
                                  Leslie's BFF on "Parks and Recreation"
                                9. 9D
                                  Endeavor you may need a lift to
                                10. 10D
                                  Upscale name of the Patagonian toothfish on menus
                                11. 11D
                                  It may be spontaneous
                                12. 12D
                                  Components of lotions
                                13. 13D
                                  "The Bells of St. ___"
                                14. 18D
                                  Hard suit to wear
                                15. 21D
                                  Just a number, we are told
                                16. 23D
                                  Classic McDonnell Douglas Turbojet plane
                                17. 24D
                                  Oddly enough, a start for either friendly or warrior
                                18. 25D
                                  Get into computers
                                19. 26D
                                  "Typee" sequel
                                20. 27D
                                  Change
                                21. 28D
                                  Satisfied sound
                                22. 30D
                                  Brunch serving
                                23. 32D
                                  "To the King", in France
                                24. 33D
                                  "___ bing!"
                                25. 38D
                                  Common citizen
                                26. 39D
                                  Have great confidence in
                                27. 40D
                                  Inu a dog with this first name?
                                28. 41D
                                  Jellied gasoline bombs
                                29. 43D
                                  Classified ad, "what will you give me": Abbr.
                                30. 44D
                                  Notorious slow movers
                                31. 45D
                                  The kind of explosive you never want to drop in a genteel conversation
                                32. 46D
                                  Internet stranger
                                33. 47D
                                  Silver and gold, but not bronze: Abbr.
                                34. 48D
                                  Carrot alternative
                                35. 51D
                                  "Bye now"
                                36. 52D
                                  A couple CBS spinoffs
                                37. 53D
                                  Prefix with -phile
                                38. 56D
                                  Antidiscrimination initials
                                39. 57D
                                  Kilmer of "Top Gun"
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