What Have You Got to Lose?
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What Have You Got to Lose?

· By Mikey G

Meta Prompt
[Level 1] The answer to the meta is a 2-word phrase in the form 3, 3.
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Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Hector solved 2025-01-04T18:20:15.878Z
  • oldjudge solved 2025-01-04T18:27:46.668Z
  • KayW solved 2025-01-04T18:35:02.563Z
  • Danny K Bernstein solved 2025-01-04T18:48:18.646Z
  • Sendhil Revuluri solved 2025-01-04T18:56:40.296Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2025-01-04T18:59:01.810Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2025-01-04T19:04:33.548Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2025-01-04T19:05:57.469Z
  • hoover solved 2025-01-04T19:13:27.810Z
  • CAe39 solved 2025-01-04T19:24:38.096Z
  • BarbaraK solved 2025-01-04T19:25:27.818Z
  • Abide solved 2025-01-04T19:27:00.605Z
  • woozy solved 2025-01-04T19:28:29.099Z
  • DCBilly solved 2025-01-04T19:37:59.524Z
  • Bodegas solved 2025-01-04T19:39:39.557Z
  • Meg solved 2025-01-04T20:09:28.307Z
  • Berto solved 2025-01-04T20:10:39.529Z
  • boharr solved 2025-01-04T20:17:51.029Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2025-01-04T20:26:53.319Z
  • Schmeel solved 2025-01-04T20:27:33.848Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2025-01-04T20:35:12.270Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2025-01-04T20:41:20.270Z
  • Tim solved 2025-01-04T20:50:03.987Z
  • LesY solved 2025-01-04T21:03:59.154Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2025-01-04T21:05:42.374Z
  • Eric Porter solved 2025-01-04T21:07:23.086Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2025-01-04T21:12:53.120Z
  • Miriam Sicherman solved 2025-01-04T21:31:23.171Z
  • dilly solved 2025-01-04T21:37:17.110Z
  • andeux solved 2025-01-04T22:22:19.763Z
  • MatthewL solved 2025-01-04T22:23:41.302Z
  • DJB solved 2025-01-04T23:12:24.122Z
  • markhr solved 2025-01-04T23:18:18.704Z
  • JM solved 2025-01-04T23:27:33.913Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2025-01-04T23:30:01.309Z
  • AuLeaf solved 2025-01-04T23:52:32.416Z
  • whimsy solved 2025-01-05T00:09:21.658Z
  • nikhilisvalid solved 2025-01-05T00:14:38.024Z
  • SJMcK solved 2025-01-05T00:36:15.502Z
  • Darth solved 2025-01-05T00:43:43.206Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2025-01-05T00:59:45.052Z
  • Heb solved 2025-01-05T02:10:04.494Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2025-01-05T02:16:57.336Z
  • lbray53 solved 2025-01-05T02:31:31.203Z
  • Jordan W solved 2025-01-05T03:03:36.900Z
  • Scrivimancer solved 2025-01-05T03:04:11.997Z
  • DebbieC solved 2025-01-05T03:06:23.162Z
  • Joe solved 2025-01-05T03:21:11.939Z
  • benchen71 solved 2025-01-05T03:51:52.587Z
  • spotter solved 2025-01-05T04:22:14.717Z
  • ELSavage solved 2025-01-05T05:07:46.926Z
  • Bob J solved 2025-01-05T12:57:10.622Z
  • rjy solved 2025-01-05T16:28:15.621Z
  • Dave C solved 2025-01-05T17:44:04.244Z
  • James Arnold solved 2025-01-05T19:03:28.634Z
  • Myelbow solved 2025-01-05T20:31:29.627Z
  • kymike solved 2025-01-05T22:58:13.945Z
  • DIS solved 2025-01-05T23:34:50.895Z
  • Bbaack solved 2025-01-06T00:37:48.321Z
  • JHSeeman solved 2025-01-06T00:55:09.304Z
  • shalmanezer solved 2025-01-06T01:19:54.348Z
  • Unmooshed solved 2025-01-06T03:39:41.940Z
  • DrTom solved 2025-01-06T04:30:01.703Z
  • heidi solved 2025-01-06T05:03:43.798Z
  • rvkal solved 2025-01-06T05:58:36.301Z
  • Adam Linder solved 2025-01-06T11:56:58.892Z
  • Alex Sisti solved 2025-01-06T14:02:31.917Z
  • SJ solved 2025-01-06T14:27:47.264Z
  • Capn Rick solved 2025-01-07T03:05:34.830Z
  • Bird Lives solved 2025-01-08T16:47:55.692Z

Comments

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  • Mikey G constructor · 2025-01-04T18:15:55.696Z
    Answer: WHY NOT
    Explanation: Five silly themers are missing the letter "Y," alluding to the phrase WHY NOT, a question also synonymous with the title of the meta. The grid contains every letter but "Y" - and no "Y" appears in the clues either! Note the clue for KNOT giving a nudge toward NOT also. In addition, the meta is in honor of the 25th letter for 2025. May you have a great start to your new year!
    • Sendhil Revuluri 🤓5:07 · 2025-01-04T18:56:52.842Z
      Fun! Thank you for an accessible meta!
      • KayW 🤓3:33 · 2025-01-04T18:46:09.290Z
        Nice!! Loved 16 across and all the usual punny goodness. Especially IAMB the walrus. But based on the way I feel after the holidays, I thought the answer was going to be ONE TON :D Thanks Mikey!
        • Abide 🤓10:29 · 2025-01-04T19:28:35.267Z
          [...the meta is in honor of the 25th letter for 2025...]
          For some reason this cracks me up.
          • woozy 17:53 · 2025-01-04T19:29:27.743Z
            I'm disappointed it has nothing to do with 11 squared!
            No, I'm not. It's another fun puzzle.
            (Easier meta than grid)
            • Mikey G constructor · 2025-01-04T21:26:18.770Z
              Thanks! But, yeah, to get this a near-pangram, some of the fill got brutal.
            • CAe39 18:57 · 2025-01-04T19:26:40.805Z
              Thanks for all of your puzzles. Go Cubs!
              • boharr 4s · 2025-01-04T20:22:04.060Z
                Needed Google to find some Ys I never heard of. Buy they exist! Thanks, Mikey and Happy New Year.
                • Cindy Heisler 2s · 2025-01-04T20:45:39.065Z
                  I found the meta easier than the grid. The grid had me worried. But I loved the puns. Thanks, Mikey!
                  • Mikey G constructor · 2025-01-04T23:55:41.616Z
                    Definitely didn't realize this would be one of those "inversions," but I can see it in retrospect!
                  • HeadinHome 🤓4:11 · 2025-01-04T21:21:15.122Z
                    Creative and fun .. thanks!
                    • MatthewL 🤓23:16 · 2025-01-04T22:24:56.036Z
                      Ver_ clever. Was overthinking it, per usual. Thanks for the puzzle, Mike_!
                      • Darth 🤓21:19 · 2025-01-05T00:48:15.623Z
                        U R YY! :-) You are too wise! Thanks, and Happy '25, Mikey!
                        • Dave C 4s · 2025-01-05T17:44:47.911Z
                          Nice way to start the year.
                          • DIS 🤓10:52 · 2025-01-05T23:37:16.878Z
                            Was this also inspired by Matt Gaffney's puzzle from a week ago?
                            • Mikey G constructor · 2025-01-08T01:09:52.195Z
                              Trying to think which one that was! I wanted to make a puzzle about Y for '25 (that cracked Peter up, apparently, hahaha), and I originally had some really confusing thing that...I can't even remember what it was. It wasn't working lol. So I was like, "Let's just go easy to start things off!"
                            • JHSeeman 3s · 2025-01-06T00:55:20.839Z
                              Love the puns
                              • Mikey G constructor · 2025-01-08T01:09:59.355Z
                                Another punderful year ahead!
                              • DrTom 3s · 2025-01-06T04:36:32.477Z
                                Fun, and a nice easy trip to the Y! Actually I was wondering how you might make it three word to answer the prompt "What you say when everyone seems to be getting the meta answer with ease" and have clues that generated the answers DOUGH and RAY (as well as your Y's) so it could be "WHY NOT ME?" which 80% of the time answers that particular meta prompt.
                                Thanks Mikey, my POAK streak of 2025 is 100%!
                                • Capn Rick 12:17 · 2025-01-07T03:07:03.631Z
                                  Nice one, Mikey! Happy New Year!
                                  • Bird Lives 3s · 2025-01-08T16:51:26.601Z
                                    Is anyone else old enough to remember Dayton Allen on the Steve Allen Show? Go here and listen to the first five seconds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YJOVIko3Q0
                                    1A
                                    What I don't like to do in the morning
                                    1
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                                    40
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                                    47
                                    48
                                    49
                                    50
                                    51
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                                    53
                                    54
                                    55
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                                    57
                                    58
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                                    61
                                    62
                                    63
                                    64
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                                    66
                                    67
                                    68
                                    69
                                    70
                                    71
                                    72
                                    73
                                    Across
                                    1. 1A
                                      What I don't like to do in the morning
                                    2. 5A
                                      Spanish hors d'oeuvre
                                    3. 9A
                                      It replaced Lagos as Nigeria's capital
                                    4. 14A
                                      ABA titles
                                    5. 15A
                                      I just bought a thousandth abacus, but ___ counting?
                                    6. 16A
                                      Emulates Cleveland in the 2016 World Series
                                    7. 17A
                                      Rock group dedicated to singing about diminishing soda sites?
                                    8. 20A
                                      Their careers are going downhill fast
                                    9. 21A
                                      Cab alternative
                                    10. 22A
                                      One-million link
                                    11. 23A
                                      RAF distinction (anagram of a lawn material)
                                    12. 24A
                                      Cue for a group of students who need to take a turn?
                                    13. 27A
                                      Said the boar to his potential mate, "___ goes it?"
                                    14. 29A
                                      Winnie's middle name?
                                    15. 31A
                                      "Come here and check out this new answering machine sound!" "Don't use that ___ with me!"
                                    16. 32A
                                      Last word in Spongebob Squarepants' place of work
                                    17. 34A
                                      Pouch
                                    18. 36A
                                      App replaced with Hangouts, which was later replaced with an app with a similar name to the original app, I guess?
                                    19. 40A
                                      Corn farmer's expertise?
                                    20. 44A
                                      Call the whole thing off
                                    21. 45A
                                      "So that's how the meta is solved!"
                                    22. 46A
                                      ___-Missouria Tribe
                                    23. 47A
                                      Consider
                                    24. 50A
                                      Commercial lead-in to "clean" ("But, wait, there's more!")
                                    25. 52A
                                      Chum
                                    26. 53A
                                      Where to watch the movie on how parchment is made?
                                    27. 57A
                                      Fit-fiddle link
                                    28. 59A
                                      Laila who was the Panda on "The Masked Singer"
                                    29. 60A
                                      "People" people, perhaps, for short?
                                    30. 61A
                                      Company you'll have to "train" to be a part of LOL
                                    31. 64A
                                      Animated series about pop singer born Alecia Moore and a rocket scientist?
                                    32. 68A
                                      Penultimate part of a Shakespeare work, often
                                    33. 69A
                                      King with three daughters
                                    34. 70A
                                      "And ___ it all over again!"
                                    35. 71A
                                      Lewis who sang the Motown-inspired Christmas song "One More Sleep"
                                    36. 72A
                                      This, in Tijuana
                                    37. 73A
                                      Bog fuel, or bog fuel (whoops, that last part was a re-___)
                                    Down
                                    1. 1D
                                      These people make calls for a living
                                    2. 2D
                                      Doesn't need assistance
                                    3. 3D
                                      Short-tempered neighbor of Spongebob Squarepants
                                    4. 4D
                                      Crosswordese serfs
                                    5. 5D
                                      "___ the night before Christmas..."
                                    6. 6D
                                      Fish found in Tahiti?
                                    7. 7D
                                      Thin citrus-based Japanese sauce (use 5 of 6 letters in ZONE UP)
                                    8. 8D
                                      Pass, sometimes
                                    9. 9D
                                      1980s TV creature from Melmac
                                    10. 10D
                                      When the violinist forgot hers, she cried, "Fiddle stick!"
                                    11. 11D
                                      Bolt on a track
                                    12. 12D
                                      "Read with ___" (book club that began in 2019)
                                    13. 13D
                                      Give ___ of approval
                                    14. 18D
                                      Home run pace
                                    15. 19D
                                      "This meta puzzle works ___ few levels" (what I hope isn't said about this one!)
                                    16. 24D
                                      "Turn the ___ Around" (1976 Vicki Sue Robinson song)
                                    17. 25D
                                      "Benson"'s Swenson
                                    18. 26D
                                      Lizard that loves insurance
                                    19. 27D
                                      ___-ball (arcade standard)
                                    20. 28D
                                      Algerian port (whose letters are all found in the phrase "Algerian port")
                                    21. 30D
                                      QVC alternative
                                    22. 33D
                                      It's often coupled with a single
                                    23. 35D
                                      Half a dance
                                    24. 37D
                                      Top of the pops ("Root beer and Dr Pepper!" "Wrong pops") (That joke fell flat)
                                    25. 38D
                                      "Need to meet the ox often found in crosswords? ___ someone!"
                                    26. 39D
                                      Brand of Neutrogena shampoo
                                    27. 41D
                                      Roman road that, with initial "L" appended, becomes a unit of measurement
                                    28. 42D
                                      Website with tips or something, I guess (that I've clued more times than I've visited)
                                    29. 43D
                                      Point at which the first derivative is 0 and the second derivative is negative, for short
                                    30. 48D
                                      Square
                                    31. 49D
                                      Adjective more related to the median than the mean
                                    32. 51D
                                      Song about a poem-loving tusker: "___ the Walrus"
                                    33. 53D
                                      Kind of bull
                                    34. 54D
                                      "A House for ___" (Diana Evans novel)
                                    35. 55D
                                      Kind of bean or car (same mileage for both)
                                    36. 56D
                                      ___ Park, Colorado
                                    37. 58D
                                      Steakhouse order
                                    38. 61D
                                      Aviation prefix
                                    39. 62D
                                      Verdi opus
                                    40. 63D
                                      Pretzel shape whose homophone is a 3-letter adverb
                                    41. 65D
                                      Folks
                                    42. 66D
                                      First name of the director of "Selma" or "A Wrinkle in Time"
                                    43. 67D
                                      "I can't find where I placed the fedora! I'm ___ a loss for words!"
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