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What Would Santa Say?

· By DrTom · Published 2024-12-25T12:30:07.223Z

Meta Prompt
The meta is a seasonal message
Wow, what a fun gift to open Christmas morning! Not to worry though, this will not keep you from your family or your holiday eggnog because it is a holly adorned kitten if ever there was one. I know it is not the tricky MEOW's of the past (or the really inventive ones of the distant past, however Josh is returning in a limited capacity very soon so stay tuned) but consider it my present to you on Christmas Day.
You've laughed at my jokes (often despite your good intentions not to), you've groaned at my puns and you've struggled through my "trying to be WAY to clever" clues, all with great poise and little sniping. To each one of you I say (in the spirit of diversity) Happy Holidays and may your celebrations, whatever they are, include only crosswords and not cross words.
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Dave C solved 2024-12-25T03:27:54.683Z
  • kymike solved 2024-12-25T03:51:48.957Z
  • markhr solved 2024-12-25T04:30:56.967Z
  • Darth solved 2024-12-25T05:29:39.727Z
  • Berto solved 2024-12-25T06:10:21.755Z
  • benchen71 solved 2024-12-25T06:21:43.758Z
  • KayW solved 2024-12-25T06:47:09.789Z
  • woozy solved 2024-12-25T07:31:27.315Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2024-12-25T08:08:11.481Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2024-12-25T13:22:22.801Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2024-12-25T13:49:11.834Z
  • DIS solved 2024-12-25T14:02:55.680Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2024-12-25T14:10:58.623Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2024-12-25T14:47:30.977Z
  • Carolyn solved 2024-12-25T15:22:06.101Z
  • lbray53 solved 2024-12-25T15:26:49.665Z
  • Hector solved 2024-12-25T15:34:55.841Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2024-12-25T15:38:43.976Z
  • whimsy solved 2024-12-25T15:44:28.560Z
  • Kent solved 2024-12-25T15:52:27.464Z
  • SaltySlice solved 2024-12-25T16:22:39.526Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2024-12-25T16:44:01.729Z
  • boharr solved 2024-12-25T16:49:37.979Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2024-12-25T17:09:47.812Z
  • heidi solved 2024-12-25T17:33:10.296Z
  • DCBilly solved 2024-12-25T18:00:55.896Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2024-12-25T18:30:15.089Z
  • Jordan W solved 2024-12-25T18:57:37.050Z
  • MatthewL solved 2024-12-25T19:01:55.873Z
  • Meg solved 2024-12-25T19:09:08.089Z
  • FedexPope solved 2024-12-25T20:20:41.173Z
  • Madhatter5 solved 2024-12-25T20:35:34.196Z
  • Mwoychick solved 2024-12-25T21:06:53.671Z
  • Bird Lives solved 2024-12-25T21:54:11.240Z
  • omnilynx solved 2024-12-25T22:37:39.908Z
  • Jeremy Smith solved 2024-12-25T23:02:15.495Z
  • ajk solved 2024-12-25T23:44:10.206Z
  • Sendhil Revuluri solved 2024-12-26T01:07:33.119Z
  • JM solved 2024-12-26T02:48:17.470Z
  • rvkal solved 2024-12-26T07:08:17.101Z
  • Just 4 Laffs solved 2024-12-26T08:35:10.250Z
  • Avlan solved 2024-12-26T10:07:45.437Z
  • SJ solved 2024-12-26T10:19:03.433Z
  • Tim solved 2024-12-26T13:32:13.801Z
  • rjy solved 2024-12-26T15:04:16.288Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2024-12-26T15:14:06.767Z
  • edestlin solved 2024-12-26T15:44:57.613Z
  • Qmark solved 2024-12-26T16:32:00.685Z
  • Lance solved 2024-12-26T16:48:15.904Z
  • Lauren C solved 2024-12-26T18:24:12.302Z
  • Trixxi solved 2024-12-27T00:15:27.757Z

Comments

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  • Dave C 3s · 2024-12-25T12:30:07.223Z
    It's nice to have easy ones for the holidays. Thanks for all your puzzles.
    • kymike 2s · 2024-12-25T12:30:07.223Z
      Thanks Doc! Merry Christmas!
      • Darth 20:01 · 2024-12-25T12:30:07.223Z
        Merry Christmas, DrT!
        • Berto 3s · 2024-12-25T12:30:07.223Z
          The hardest part was entering Ho without it autocorrecting to Go!! Merry Christmas, Dr Tom!
          • woozy 24:37 · 2024-12-25T12:30:07.223Z
            It was hard because it was easy. "So I see that all these words have 'ho' in them. But now what? Take the first letters? First letters of clues? Remove the 'ho's and find other words with the remaining letters?"
            Fun one.
            Merry Christmas
            • DCBilly 3:19 · 2024-12-25T18:03:11.016Z
              +1
              • DrTom constructor · 2024-12-25T15:46:37.647Z
                Well we always anticipate it will be harder than it is! Merry Christmas
              • HeadinHome 🤓1:35 · 2024-12-25T13:23:03.181Z
                Ho ho ho! And a happy holiday to all. Thanks Dr. Tom!
                • LarsCaine 🤓19:28 · 2024-12-25T13:50:37.337Z
                  Thanks! Merry Christmas!
                  • I K Snamhcok 🤓12:37 · 2024-12-25T15:39:52.823Z
                    Thanks, Dr. T! Merry merry merry happy happy happy!
                    • Carolyn 2s · 2024-12-25T15:22:48.755Z
                      Merry Ho Ho Ho!
                      • whimsy 16:35 · 2024-12-25T15:48:27.499Z
                        Yup -- I too had to rein myself in from attempting to over complicate -- remind you of anybody? 😜 Yay! I finally got a kitten in my stocking -- Thanks, and merry times, Tom!
                        • boharr 3s · 2024-12-25T16:50:24.940Z
                          Ho! Thanks and Merry Christmas !
                          • Tyrpmom 10:30 · 2024-12-25T17:10:51.239Z
                            Merry Christmas!
                            • Meg 3s · 2024-12-25T19:10:17.894Z
                              Tried to do a word ladder because I strongly believe in complicating metas whenever possible.
                              • DrTom constructor · 2024-12-26T03:51:33.539Z
                                Hmmm, word ladder...I believe I have tried that one already, maybe time to revisit?
                              • MatthewL 🤓10:25 · 2024-12-25T19:02:54.503Z
                                Started to overthink it, and then remembered you said it was a kitten. Thanks for the puzzle, Dr. Tom, and Merry Christmas!
                                • Madhatter5 2s · 2024-12-25T20:36:37.945Z
                                  Go go go tom!
                                  • Bird Lives 3s · 2024-12-25T21:58:05.671Z
                                    Like Woozy, I was looking for something involving Eight Hos or the entries that housed them. Although I worked in New Jersey over many years, I never became very familiar with its geography. But I've always wondered what it would be like to spend Christmas in Hohokus.
                                    • DrTom constructor · 2024-12-26T03:50:22.389Z
                                      Well there was something involving eight Hos, but the police raided it and sent everybody home.....
                                      • DrTom constructor · 2024-12-26T16:56:19.001Z
                                        Oh, and there are nine Hos, as in "Nine Hos a dancing..."
                                      • ajk 7:53 · 2024-12-25T23:46:17.268Z
                                        tried Merry Christmas first, thinking that it was supposed to be what followed the HOs, but eventually thought to try the right answer. Happy holidays and thanks for all the puzzles (including the ones from this semester that I'm still working through 😆)
                                        • Qmark 2s · 2024-12-26T16:32:52.075Z
                                          Merry Christmas DrTom!
                                          1A
                                          Makes stuff up, shortly
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                                          Across
                                          1. 1A
                                            Makes stuff up, shortly
                                          2. 5A
                                            Single power source for an "open" sleigh
                                          3. 10A
                                            Refuse to do something
                                          4. 14A
                                            Problem that had the Tin Woodsman up a "creak"
                                          5. 15A
                                            Nail the final
                                          6. 16A
                                            Alphabetically after, but anatomically before, femurs
                                          7. 17A
                                            Fictional wirehair
                                          8. 18A
                                            Remnant of Christmas past
                                          9. 19A
                                            You could find this attached to a car
                                          10. 20A
                                            Christmas plant, the holly ___
                                          11. 22A
                                            Sp. miss
                                          12. 23A
                                            Top of the line
                                          13. 24A
                                            What you can often see a ballerina on
                                          14. 26A
                                            Petrol porter
                                          15. 28A
                                            Big story in Iceland
                                          16. 30A
                                            Raise up the chimney
                                          17. 33A
                                            German coal region
                                          18. 36A
                                            Functional
                                          19. 40A
                                            One of a moist seven
                                          20. 41A
                                            Contents of 40A in 46A
                                          21. 42A
                                            Youthful academic achiever whos been good all year
                                          22. 43A
                                            Scotch bonnet
                                          23. 44A
                                            What I am occasionally forced to do with my words
                                          24. 45A
                                            Dancer Ruby
                                          25. 46A
                                            Bora Bora, French Polynesia
                                          26. 47A
                                            Souvenir of a trip to see Santa
                                          27. 49A
                                            Emotional outbursts from a shepherd
                                          28. 51A
                                            Distant source of radio waves
                                          29. 55A
                                            Date on a milk jug
                                          30. 59A
                                            Friends of 46A's inhabitants
                                          31. 61A
                                            Is in the red
                                          32. 63A
                                            California/Nevada ski destination over the holidays
                                          33. 64A
                                            Online chuckles
                                          34. 65A
                                            Description of a male who can visit every house in the world in one night carrying a VERY heavy bag
                                          35. 67A
                                            Large gathering at church
                                          36. 68A
                                            Head of a musical gang
                                          37. 69A
                                            Film to go Gaga over, "___ is Born"
                                          38. 70A
                                            Airs
                                          39. 71A
                                            Johnson of "Laugh-In"
                                          40. 72A
                                            Stature description of an elf
                                          41. 73A
                                            Hunter's wear, briefly
                                          Down
                                          1. 1D
                                            Orbach's "Law and Order" co-star
                                          2. 2D
                                            Temaki or futomaki
                                          3. 3D
                                            Legally prevent
                                          4. 4D
                                            First course for an A-teamer
                                          5. 5D
                                            Witchy woman
                                          6. 6D
                                            Publisher, and one-time NY Times owner, Adolph
                                          7. 7D
                                            Corporate shake-up, for short
                                          8. 8D
                                            Hip-hop counterpart to "bro"
                                          9. 9D
                                            James and Jones of jazz
                                          10. 10D
                                            Basque city with a Guggenheim
                                          11. 11D
                                            19th C. term for psychiatrists
                                          12. 12D
                                            Empty promises
                                          13. 13D
                                            German philosopher critical of people's judgement
                                          14. 21D
                                            Affirmative action
                                          15. 25D
                                            Draw out
                                          16. 27D
                                            Actress that everyone in Paris calls "Dear"
                                          17. 29D
                                            Athlete on a 2005 U.S. stamp
                                          18. 31D
                                            Sign of approval
                                          19. 32D
                                            Break the spirit of
                                          20. 33D
                                            Slowly ooze in
                                          21. 34D
                                            Sigh of relief
                                          22. 35D
                                            Steering system on a Tesla
                                          23. 37D
                                            "You've got mail" co.
                                          24. 38D
                                            Forfeited a big lead
                                          25. 39D
                                            ___ Theme, "Dr. Zhivago"
                                          26. 42D
                                            Vodka brand that sounds like a toast
                                          27. 46D
                                            Adhering to five sturdy pillars
                                          28. 48D
                                            Small scrap
                                          29. 50D
                                            Receive
                                          30. 52D
                                            "Brave New World" drugs
                                          31. 53D
                                            Inundated
                                          32. 54D
                                            Term destined for page one
                                          33. 56D
                                            Tibetan capital with a dogged determination
                                          34. 57D
                                            Kind of buddy
                                          35. 58D
                                            Binary choice
                                          36. 59D
                                            Leading Seltzer
                                          37. 60D
                                            Othello, for example
                                          38. 62D
                                            ___-Pei (wrinkly pet)
                                          39. 66D
                                            Leftover
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