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Not Quite (Meta)

· By benchen71 · Published 2024-11-19T05:00:22.272Z

Meta Prompt
The answer to the meta is a 4-word phrase
I think I was in a slightly silly mood tonight. Hopefully, the end result of that is the occasional clue that trends towards the funner side of the spectrum and a few less common references in the clues, ranging across some perhaps lesser-known pop-culture references, history, and computer programming (1 across, but that's the only one I swear!) All fair game in what should prove to be a nice "week 3"-level challenge. The answer to the meta is a 4-word phrase. Answer & explanation: https://www.xword-muggles.com/viewtopic.php?p=186043#p186043
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here: https://www.ephesusscroll.com/about/interest4.html. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta!
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Tyler Stokes solved 2024-11-19T00:22:06.094Z
  • Danny K Bernstein solved 2024-11-19T05:59:23.329Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2024-11-19T06:24:50.400Z
  • Morendil solved 2024-11-19T07:21:03.835Z
  • Berto solved 2024-11-19T07:29:06.350Z
  • ELSavage solved 2024-11-19T09:59:01.495Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2024-11-19T13:05:33.687Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2024-11-19T13:12:07.738Z
  • boharr solved 2024-11-19T13:58:40.995Z
  • Darth solved 2024-11-19T14:07:31.402Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2024-11-19T14:07:35.188Z
  • lbray53 solved 2024-11-19T14:11:34.325Z
  • JM solved 2024-11-19T14:13:12.176Z
  • Carolyn solved 2024-11-19T14:17:44.428Z
  • hoover solved 2024-11-19T14:17:45.684Z
  • DCBilly solved 2024-11-19T14:35:07.906Z
  • Meg solved 2024-11-19T14:43:30.752Z
  • edestlin solved 2024-11-19T15:08:20.393Z
  • markhr solved 2024-11-19T15:08:29.027Z
  • Capn Rick solved 2024-11-19T15:27:20.967Z
  • MatthewL solved 2024-11-19T16:14:45.081Z
  • woozy solved 2024-11-19T16:19:31.233Z
  • rjy solved 2024-11-19T16:21:49.391Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2024-11-19T16:39:58.664Z
  • Serafin solved 2024-11-19T17:09:17.772Z
  • Hector solved 2024-11-19T17:12:24.543Z
  • heidi solved 2024-11-19T17:32:34.460Z
  • DIS solved 2024-11-19T17:37:42.140Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2024-11-19T17:42:05.540Z
  • Sunflower solved 2024-11-19T17:45:36.589Z
  • kurtalert solved 2024-11-19T18:22:13.685Z
  • KayW solved 2024-11-19T18:27:42.551Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2024-11-19T18:58:00.694Z
  • Johnny Luau solved 2024-11-19T19:57:42.469Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2024-11-19T19:58:01.365Z
  • CabinCardinal solved 2024-11-19T19:58:24.910Z
  • imontoo solved 2024-11-19T20:24:38.624Z
  • Dave C solved 2024-11-19T20:26:49.365Z
  • Laura M solved 2024-11-19T21:26:16.687Z
  • Tim solved 2024-11-19T21:48:27.802Z
  • Avlan solved 2024-11-19T22:34:55.927Z
  • iceman solved 2024-11-20T01:28:39.514Z
  • Abide solved 2024-11-20T01:33:48.553Z
  • kseaaaaaaa solved 2024-11-20T02:34:06.147Z
  • whimsy solved 2024-11-20T02:58:52.305Z
  • Sendhil Revuluri solved 2024-11-20T03:47:51.842Z
  • eric99 solved 2024-11-20T10:03:01.650Z
  • DrTom solved 2024-11-20T16:45:50.041Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2024-11-20T18:02:56.316Z
  • mateo solved 2024-11-20T20:55:51.379Z
  • FedexPope solved 2024-11-20T22:15:08.531Z
  • Spid4567 solved 2024-11-21T04:18:10.179Z
  • rvkal solved 2024-11-21T06:16:14.744Z
  • Qmark solved 2024-11-21T14:43:49.951Z
  • omnilynx solved 2024-11-21T20:27:03.739Z
  • Sharkicicles solved 2024-11-21T21:13:28.738Z
  • Mikey G solved 2024-11-23T22:56:43.622Z
  • frostyjhammer solved 2024-11-27T04:41:22.838Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2024-11-27T14:51:09.924Z

Comments

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  • Berto 2s · 2024-11-19T07:30:30.240Z
    I was starting to question my spelling! (And how we were going to get four words out of the grid!) Nice one Ben!
    • benchen71 constructor · 2024-11-19T11:02:40.772Z
      I thought HARBRINGER was the correct spelling for ages growing up!
    • ELSavage 11:21 · 2024-11-19T10:04:00.348Z
      Not sure this counts as a solve, since I had to resort to a reveal to get one of the key letters (the various spellings of that word have always bothered me - so I can never tell the real ones from the typos), but I had already figured out the mechanism, so that counts for something. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to try this so early in the morning when I should have been using my insomnia to tackle the real items on my to-do list.
      • benchen71 constructor · 2024-11-19T11:02:11.570Z
        That definitely counts as a solve in my book! I often have to reveal grid squares in other people's metas - and I only wish I could do it with the WSJ and Gaffney at times too. All is fair in love and metas!
      • Cindy Heisler 2s · 2024-11-19T14:11:47.471Z
        I would have had it on my first submission if I had remembered what the prompt said. Challenging grid with the extra letters. That had me doubting my answers! Thanks, Ben!
        • Darth 18:37 · 2024-11-19T14:09:48.149Z
          I have trouble spelling easy words, but TGFG! :P Thanks, Ben.
          • Carolyn 2s · 2024-11-19T14:21:04.071Z
            Cute!
            • hoover 3s · 2024-11-19T14:20:38.039Z
              17A had me shaking my head in disappointment. By the time I got to 25A I had figured out what was going on and forgave you. 🙃
              • benchen71 constructor · 2024-11-19T22:49:36.293Z
                Spellling erors can ocasionallly slip in!
              • lbray53 2s · 2024-11-19T14:13:53.918Z
                Fun. I would say that the fill was a week three, but the difficulty of completing the grid led me straight to the mechanism. Once the grid was filled it became a week one. Nice aha moment but it came pretty quickly after the entries were all in.
                • Capn Rick 🤓9:09 · 2024-11-19T15:29:31.994Z
                  Nice one, Ben! I agree with what lbray53 said re: difficulty of grid vs meta.
                  • woozy 🤓13:50 · 2024-11-19T16:22:34.391Z
                    But... shouldn't it be "cigar but no close". We have the cigar.
                    Clever and funny! I was thinking we probably needed to come up with reasons for the extra letters. Daicquiris and gingkgo really made filling in the grid difficult.
                    • MatthewL 🤓11:42 · 2024-11-19T16:18:37.425Z
                      Funny -- I guessed the answer before grokking the mechanism, and started googling cigar brands to see if some of the grid entries were close. Lord, but there are a lot of them. Then noticed the misspelling of HARBINGER and was on my way. Thanks for the puzzle, Ben!
                      • KayW 🤓4:10 · 2024-11-19T18:37:16.052Z
                        Hahaha. You nearly got me, Ben. I thought to myself "huh, I didn't THINK there was a C in DAIQUIRI, maybe that's an Aussie spelling". I got suspicious with the others but HARBRINGER tipped me off for sure. Tho I still googled the spelling of each to make SURE I had them right. Very believable misspellings! Thanks.
                        • benchen71 constructor · 2024-11-19T22:51:36.821Z
                          As I've already commented, I thought HARBRINGER was the correct spelling for ages. GRAINARY and BEASTIAL are definitely very believable!
                        • kurtalert 🤓5:41 · 2024-11-19T18:22:46.618Z
                          Hah, beautiful. I mess a few of these up all the time!
                          • Dave C 4s · 2024-11-19T20:28:29.638Z
                            It was fun. I didn't see the extra I or A at first, so CGR didn't make much sense.
                            • benchen71 constructor · 2024-11-19T22:52:00.922Z
                              GRAINARY and BEASTIAL are definitely very believable!
                            • imontoo 3s · 2024-11-19T20:25:21.853Z
                              So funny. Thanks, Ben!
                              • Abide 🤓14:35 · 2024-11-20T01:38:52.953Z
                                Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. 💨
                              • whimsy 16:50 · 2024-11-20T03:05:43.952Z
                                Exactly the answer I wanted even before I started filling in the grid. How to describe this one? Slightly annoying ... but lots of fun! Thanks, Ben!
                                • benchen71 constructor · 2024-11-20T03:24:04.111Z
                                  Getting that balance right is tricky! ;-)
                                • Sendhil Revuluri 🤓7:20 · 2024-11-20T03:49:28.172Z
                                  Very nice!
                                  • eric99 3s · 2024-11-20T10:04:40.028Z
                                    Fun meta! Thanks!
                                    • HeadinHome 🤓1:26 · 2024-11-20T18:08:34.223Z
                                      Agree with lbray53 and capn — tough grid, easy meta. I too was wondering briefly if Aussies just had a different spelling for everything! But I knew DAICQUIRIES was wrong, so that helped with the other themers (not to sweat that my answer didn’t fit).
                                      • DrTom 3s · 2024-11-20T16:51:12.837Z
                                        Fun puzzle with some interesting fill. I spent a lot of time with GINGKO BILOBA trying to convince people it was NOT the new miracle drug and they should not flush their Rx meds in favor of it so that spelling caught my eye. Then HARBRINGER, and I said "TWO misspellings, this is Ben, unlikely!" From there is was just a rum, sugar and a vicious attack on some wheat and I was at the end enjoying my stogie.
                                        • Qmark 3s · 2024-11-21T14:44:32.162Z
                                          fun one...thanks Ben! (no nudges needed)
                                          • omnilynx 🤓12:23 · 2024-11-21T20:28:27.007Z
                                            This is the rare meta where filling in the grid was the hardest part!
                                            • benchen71 constructor · 2024-11-21T22:10:03.065Z
                                              I like to do this sort of thing every so often! ;-)
                                            • Sharkicicles 11s · 2024-11-21T21:13:42.595Z
                                              No nudges needed. Thanks Ben!
                                              1A
                                              ["Python", "data", "structure", "like", "this", "clue"]
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                                              67
                                              Across
                                              1. 1A
                                                ["Python", "data", "structure", "like", "this", "clue"]
                                              2. 5A
                                                Bar seat
                                              3. 10A
                                                They might fly in the event of something extremely unlikely occuring
                                              4. 14A
                                                Italian region beloved of crossword makers everywhere
                                              5. 15A
                                                D-Day beach
                                              6. 16A
                                                Barge ___ (interrupt)
                                              7. 17A
                                                Cocktails made of rum, citrus juice, and sugar
                                              8. 19A
                                                With 19 across: Train sounds to a toddler
                                              9. 20A
                                                Connection enabling two or more people or machines to communicate
                                              10. 21A
                                                Columbus campus (abbr.)
                                              11. 23A
                                                NYC summer hrs.
                                              12. 24A
                                                It landed on the 20th July, 1969
                                              13. 25A
                                                Storehouse for wheat, perhaps
                                              14. 28A
                                                Card dealer's box
                                              15. 29A
                                                Persia, now
                                              16. 30A
                                                Wept
                                              17. 32A
                                                Hold up
                                              18. 34A
                                                Major blood vessels
                                              19. 35A
                                                Church founded by William and Catherine Booth, for short
                                              20. 38A
                                                Maidenhair tree, more commonly
                                              21. 40A
                                                ___ Lanka
                                              22. 41A
                                                The Nereid of sailing and a good catch of fish
                                              23. 43A
                                                Seat of Marion County, Florida
                                              24. 45A
                                                Dutch violinist ___ Rieu
                                              25. 46A
                                                Captain of industry
                                              26. 47A
                                                Chicago paper, for short
                                              27. 51A
                                                Savagely cruel and depraved
                                              28. 53A
                                                Flared dress style
                                              29. 54A
                                                Type of camera, for short
                                              30. 55A
                                                Cul-de-___
                                              31. 56A
                                                ___ Palmer (lead vocalist and pianist of the duo "The Dresden Dolls")
                                              32. 57A
                                                Good position for a racing driver
                                              33. 59A
                                                One that signals the approach of another
                                              34. 62A
                                                Great things to have up one's sleeve
                                              35. 63A
                                                In an unconventional manner
                                              36. 64A
                                                Be inclined (to)
                                              37. 65A
                                                "Speed Bonnie Boat" isle
                                              38. 66A
                                                Emma Stone movie from 2010 based on a book from 1850
                                              39. 67A
                                                They may be fine
                                              Down
                                              1. 1D
                                                Servers of 5 down
                                              2. 2D
                                                Old Testament book with 66 chapters
                                              3. 3D
                                                "Sophie's Choice" narrator
                                              4. 4D
                                                ___ pink
                                              5. 5D
                                                First course, often
                                              6. 6D
                                                "Srsly stop sharing!"
                                              7. 7D
                                                Metaphorical instrument of meddling
                                              8. 8D
                                                Halle Berry, for example
                                              9. 9D
                                                Drink that might accompany Rogan Josh
                                              10. 10D
                                                Snapshot, for short
                                              11. 11D
                                                Comes into money
                                              12. 12D
                                                "Is this a 1997 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon? Ooh, that was a ___!"
                                              13. 13D
                                                Slang negative reply (which is a far better clue than "Tissue contents", so you're welcome)
                                              14. 18D
                                                Spaniard's "Huh?"
                                              15. 22D
                                                Not hip
                                              16. 25D
                                                Mum's Mum, for short
                                              17. 26D
                                                Rather obscure tequila distillery in El Arenal, Jalisco, Mexico
                                              18. 27D
                                                Opposite of dep.
                                              19. 29D
                                                Pelvic bones
                                              20. 31D
                                                "Agnus ___" (Latin prayer)
                                              21. 33D
                                                Way out
                                              22. 34D
                                                Lab medium
                                              23. 35D
                                                British beverage
                                              24. 36D
                                                Product that helps prevent a tan
                                              25. 37D
                                                Cannonball ___ (jazz alto saxophonist)
                                              26. 39D
                                                Heat amount equal to 4,184 J
                                              27. 42D
                                                Anagram of 7 down (just trying to get away from endless Taika Waititi references!)
                                              28. 44D
                                                TV series created by Donald Glover
                                              29. 46D
                                                Noisy insect
                                              30. 48D
                                                Dead ___ (spitting image)
                                              31. 49D
                                                Hit the tab key, perhaps
                                              32. 50D
                                                Chin coverings
                                              33. 52D
                                                California/Nevada lake
                                              34. 53D
                                                WW1 homing pigeon Cher ___
                                              35. 54D
                                                Resorts with hot springs
                                              36. 56D
                                                Maisie's "Game of Thrones" role
                                              37. 58D
                                                180 degrees from WNW
                                              38. 60D
                                                Streets (abbr.)
                                              39. 61D
                                                Pioneering woman journalist Nellie ___
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