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· By DrTom · Published 2025-03-11T12:30:16.716Z

Meta Prompt
The meta answer is a problem solver on “The Big Bang Theory”
I am releasing this as a non-MEOW simply because I had an earlier puzzle that depended somewhat on the Big Bang Theory (hereafter BBT) and some people were upset because they had not watched it. Being a BBT geek I was amazed since most everyone I know watched it but apparently that was not a good sampling of the entire population.
This one depends a LOT on being a BBT fan so to head off criticism let me say: You will probably HAVE to be a BBT fan to solve this; my test solvers who were not were stumped, my test solve who was got it very quickly.
So, if you are a BBT fan take a swing at it, heck even if you are not, take a swing at it...
I will check back and if there is little or no traffic I'll post some nudges too.
I guarantee the answer is NOT Bazinga!!!

Nudges:

This one is hard to nudge because it kind of relies on you noticing something a BBT geek (like me) probably would, but let me try...
Nudge 1] This answer has 5 components, and they are symmetric.
Nudge 2] These symmetric components are clued so generically they almost beg for another answer.
Nudge 3] Those other answers are NOT in the grid but are synonyms of the component whose clue is really pushing for the answer that will help you solve.
Nudge 4] You and a friend are standing in the woods shown in the graphic, one of you is going to take one while the other takes the one remaining. How might you choose who takes which one?
Nudge 5] This one you are going to have to figure out, but if you do you will find the answer easily: STEE 25 (yeah I know, but trust me it is a GREAT nudge)
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Mr Tex solved 2025-03-11T13:03:45.470Z
  • KayW solved 2025-03-11T23:18:16.335Z
  • markhr solved 2025-03-12T02:40:34.878Z
  • Hector solved 2025-03-12T03:55:23.505Z
  • benchen71 solved 2025-03-12T08:24:37.248Z
  • Berto solved 2025-03-12T10:02:12.514Z
  • Meg solved 2025-03-12T17:27:16.581Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2025-03-12T17:49:14.215Z
  • rvkal solved 2025-03-13T07:33:18.067Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2025-03-13T14:32:23.722Z
  • MatthewL solved 2025-03-13T14:40:18.929Z
  • hoover solved 2025-03-13T16:04:02.896Z
  • woozy solved 2025-03-13T18:26:24.615Z
  • Mike D solved 2025-03-14T23:10:47.722Z
  • omnilynx solved 2025-03-20T02:22:38.103Z

Comments

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  • KayW 🤓6:58 · 2025-03-11T23:27:43.136Z
    Fun one, thanks Tom! (haha as you might guess I watched BBT) Bazinga!
    • DrTom constructor · 2025-03-12T01:53:23.666Z
      I figured that you were one of the enlightened ones. Heck if it weren't for BBT reruns I would often have nothing to watch on TV. I still find it one of the best things ever made, funny and smart.
      Thanks for solving.
    • Hector 🤓7:30 · 2025-03-12T03:55:45.730Z
      Google sufficed to this non-BBT-watcher
      • DrTom constructor · 2025-03-12T04:33:54.889Z
        I'm impressed that you could Google it without knowing the show - GREAT job!!!
      • markhr 🤓11:47 · 2025-03-12T04:34:50.657Z
        The Cruciverbal Recombination was a success. Enjoyed this, Dr. Tom!
        • Meg 3s · 2025-03-12T17:27:36.010Z
          Loved the Aha moment!
          • MatthewL 🤓7:25 · 2025-03-13T14:42:30.759Z
            Fun one, Tom! Was almost there, but the nudges helped close the deal. Thanks for the puzzle!
            • LarsCaine 🤓14:22 · 2025-03-13T15:24:39.546Z
              I got part of it, but definitely needed the nudges (and Google) as I'm not a watcher. Great puzzle!
              • hoover 2s · 2025-03-13T16:05:21.111Z
                Not a BBT fan, but have worked with people who introduced me to this variation. Needed the nudges, but not Google.
                • woozy 15:10 · 2025-03-13T18:29:29.884Z
                  Yeah... not a fan of the show....
                  Got a vague sense of Rock, paper, scissors for my first guess but paper was sort of a combination of Tribune, nano, and notepad, and rock of shist and moniter/iguana. Needed google to put it together.
                  • DrTom constructor · 2025-03-14T02:50:43.676Z
                    Which simply bears out the comment in the intro about why it was not a MEOW, since it really was for fans of BBT and if you are not a fan, even if you got the answer, you might not like the puzzle.
                  1A
                  Bikini, for example
                  1
                  2
                  3
                  4
                  5
                  6
                  7
                  8
                  9
                  10
                  11
                  12
                  13
                  14
                  15
                  16
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                  18
                  19
                  20
                  21
                  22
                  23
                  24
                  25
                  26
                  27
                  28
                  29
                  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
                  64
                  65
                  66
                  67
                  68
                  69
                  70
                  71
                  Across
                  1. 1A
                    Bikini, for example
                  2. 6A
                    At a great distance
                  3. 10A
                    Beaver build
                  4. 13A
                    Describing a certain type of wit or sword
                  5. 15A
                    Man who appears after a puff of white smoke
                  6. 16A
                    "We are leaving soon, give me your___"
                  7. 17A
                    Go by, as hours
                  8. 18A
                    Frost creation
                  9. 19A
                    Automatic spammer
                  10. 20A
                    Xeriscaping might just be a pile of this
                  11. 21A
                    Where an editor might jot down his musings in Chicago
                  12. 23A
                    Backs, scientifically
                  13. 26A
                    Country that borders Mali and Chad
                  14. 27A
                    Dynamite acronym to use
                  15. 30A
                    Retro tablets
                  16. 33A
                    Where Maria Muldar suggested you spend midnight
                  17. 35A
                    People look in vein for these
                  18. 36A
                    Not now
                  19. 40A
                    Namesakes of Bambi's aunt
                  20. 41A
                    Fiskar's name is synonymous with these
                  21. 42A
                    A universal one is Golden
                  22. 43A
                    Put into piles
                  23. 44A
                    Scotch flavor
                  24. 45A
                    Opposite in nature
                  25. 46A
                    Wrinkle on your brow, technically
                  26. 49A
                    "Tell me more..."
                  27. 50A
                    Tricks often perpetrated by a 19A
                  28. 53A
                    Does some onstage improv
                  29. 55A
                    Four legged reptile sometimes kept as a pet
                  30. 58A
                    Logical character to appear on Star Trek
                  31. 62A
                    Altared words
                  32. 63A
                    Kuwait resident
                  33. 65A
                    "I don't care who"
                  34. 66A
                    Type of talk
                  35. 67A
                    Domesticated
                  36. 68A
                    Tell a fib in Death Valley
                  37. 69A
                    Poetic before
                  38. 70A
                    Threat when preceded by "or"
                  39. 71A
                    Ain't right
                  Down
                  1. 1D
                    "God of War" god
                  2. 2D
                    #1 to Mohs
                  3. 3D
                    Another name for it is "moonfish"
                  4. 4D
                    Target of a statin
                  5. 5D
                    Teachable moments
                  6. 6D
                    "Candy Crush," e.g.
                  7. 7D
                    Sole occupant
                  8. 8D
                    Mimic
                  9. 9D
                    Give a nudge to (as in those words ___ me of something)
                  10. 10D
                    Check for problems
                  11. 11D
                    Advice to sinners
                  12. 12D
                    Very formal momma
                  13. 14D
                    Active leader?
                  14. 22D
                    Brasserie
                  15. 24D
                    What you will probably be if you do not heed the "Keep Off the Grass" sign
                  16. 25D
                    Antennae
                  17. 27D
                    The end of the occupant in 7D
                  18. 28D
                    Old IPod model
                  19. 29D
                    One time Russian oligarch
                  20. 31D
                    Type of ulcer
                  21. 32D
                    "Midsummers' Night Dream" character
                  22. 34D
                    Canal locales
                  23. 37D
                    Hawaiian steps
                  24. 38D
                    "Joie de vivre"
                  25. 39D
                    Geek, alternative
                  26. 41D
                    Muddy spot to relax
                  27. 45D
                    Porky's partner
                  28. 47D
                    "Downton Abbey" setting
                  29. 48D
                    Ship shaped
                  30. 50D
                    Smack in the Bible
                  31. 51D
                    App developer
                  32. 52D
                    Positively one of the poles
                  33. 54D
                    Craftier than
                  34. 56D
                    Tough test
                  35. 57D
                    Ewes guys
                  36. 59D
                    One of the slaws
                  37. 60D
                    At once, once
                  38. 61D
                    "Macbeth" eye donor?
                  39. 64D
                    Epitome of busy
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