Man when they say "It takes a village" they MUST be talking about creating Metas. I started this one as an idea hit me one day MANY months ago and finally got it finished and clued. I sent it out for testing and it needed work, so I polished it and sent it back and it still needed work. Even when most all my testers said, "it should work" there were still those who said, "yes but..." and thank you to them. Lots of eyes have already seen this one: Cinny, whimsy, edestlin and schmidzy. I could never have gotten this whipped into shape without them but schmidzy was particularly unrelenting in wanting me to put out the best product possible. So, this should be pretty honed, and if it is not, then it is no fault of theirs.
The meta answer is what you also don't want people to get with you. I would say this is a good solid Persian:
Kitten
Calico
֎PERSIAN
Puma
Lion
Though obviously your mileage may differ.
Nudges will be Friday unless there seems to be a lot of people in the dark.
NUDGES:
Nudge 1] Most people do exactly what I tell them not to do, that would be a good idea with this meta’s title
Nudge 2] Usually “fancying” things up muddies their true intent, but not with this puzzle
Nudge 3] Symmetry, symmetry, symmetry
Nudge 4] Sometimes it may be helpful to think more like a Brit when you are being fancy
Nudge 5] That is particularly true when you are thinking about 49A. What is another name for a masquerade ball in Manchester (the British one, not the New Hampshire one)
Last Minute Nudge] Just to make sure that I got my point across I started and ended with a theme answer!
REVEAL:
There were five words in the grid that you could add "FANCY" to and get a different meaning of the word:
1A FANCY Dress = COSTUME
15A FANCY That = REALLY
38A FANCY Car = ULTIMA
63A FANCY Free = DISTANT
67A FANCY Pants = ELITE
The first letter of those alternates words, in the order of the original words, spells CRUDE, the meta answer.
For a graphic representation of this solve, please go to: