External Constraints
◆ · By ajk · Published 2024-09-15T04:00:23.605Z
Meta Prompt
The meta answer is a two-word phrase
Happy Sunday
As usual, I have no clue where this one came from. Probably inspired by another puzzle somewhere, but I can't remember which.
This one is maybe on the fractionally less breezy side, but hopefully the signposts should be clear enough.
Thanks to Wendy Walker, Capn Rick, and boharr . Thanks as always to Joe Ross for tech support. And especially to Cap'n Rick for suggesting some grid restructuring.
Hope you enjoy!
cheers,
Alan
cheers,
Alan
Nudges:
The clue for 39A is obviously a good starting point. So which 10 clues?
Did some clues feel a bit...off?
Hmm, there are exactly 10 two-word clues, symmetrically placed. Seems like it might be relevant.
How might you use a clue twice? Come to think of it, the first word of the clues for 19A and 66A seem sufficient for the grid entries. And so do the second words of 17A and 64A. What about the rest?
So what are those 'extra' words clueing?? Lansbury seems pretty specific.
How might you combine the need to use those words with the word 'External' from the title?
Checking for previous play data...
1A
Allows fumes
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Across
- 1AAllows fumes
- 6ADecorates a tree, perhaps?
- 9ADull stuff
- 14ASingle output from Keats or Yeats
- 15A"Say what now?"
- 16ABecome accustomed to (var.)
- 17AFunctional fur
- 18ASch. in Troy, NY
- 19ASaint Lansbury
- 20ALong-running MTV countdown show
- 21A"We ____" (dubious morning assertion from the kids' room)
- 23ASource of dirt?
- 24AConsumed humble pie
- 26AThey might be belted
- 28AIt might draw attention?
- 29ACommedia dell'____ (early professional theater)
- 30ASearch through intensely
- 33AConveyed contempt toward
- 38ARepresentative male
- 39AA second time (which is how often you need to use ten clues)
- 40ACut rapper
- 41ASource of darkness?
- 43AIberian metropolis associated with wine
- 44AHow many flights arrive?
- 45AType
- 46AExpress remorse, as for a sin
- 49AMaxims
- 53AExplored a trail, perhaps
- 54AFrench spring water
- 56APlace to park a car
- 57ARapid nailing
- 58A____ Lingus (Irish carrier)
- 59ASerious stones
- 61ATap or ballet
- 62AMilitary rations, briefly
- 63AStart of a choosing rhyme
- 64ATrouble ire
- 65AMorose
- 66AOkay Ginger
Down
- 1DLikely Bob Marley fan
- 2DSeparate
- 3DLike a duke, earl, or viscount
- 4D____ Aviv
- 5DSomeone running a negative campaign, for example
- 6DTossed
- 7D____ platter (Polynesian restaurant feature)
- 8DCommon scuba site
- 9DLess appetizing, as an apple perhaps
- 10DBancroft, Hathaway, and Heche
- 11DPull on, as a thread
- 12DLong and arduous journeys
- 13DCommon crossword wrigglers
- 22D"Only the Lonely" singer Orbison
- 25DLadder's game companion?
- 27DWhat you usually need before driving?
- 29DSambucca or ouzo flavor
- 30DUN heads, briefly
- 31DDisney collectable, perhaps
- 32DLess than two
- 33DRapid response units
- 34DAsian soup mushroom
- 35DBrief compass heading
- 36DPerform on stage
- 37DBrief end to a fight
- 39DIRS agent, perhaps
- 42DOne who commits to a donation
- 43DCliff diver, in a way
- 45DRet. account type
- 46DPuerto ____
- 47DBarely making it, with "out"
- 48DParts of a pound?
- 49DFlagging
- 50DVernacular
- 51DFilm
- 52DGuide, as perhaps along a road
- 53D"Mary ____ Little Lamb"
- 55DFashion designer Wang
- 60DBand named after a truck