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◆◆ · By Mikey G

Meta Prompt
[Level 4] The answer to the meta is my 3-word holiday message.
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Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • Hector solved 2023-12-09T18:48:05.102Z
  • Berto solved 2023-12-09T19:27:36.884Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2023-12-09T19:31:18.655Z
  • oldjudge solved 2023-12-09T19:44:23.014Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2023-12-09T20:03:23.928Z
  • DJB solved 2023-12-09T20:17:35.061Z
  • Meg solved 2023-12-09T20:18:05.605Z
  • dannyvee solved 2023-12-09T20:44:05.028Z
  • whimsy solved 2023-12-09T20:47:32.093Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2023-12-09T20:52:40.046Z
  • SamKat9 solved 2023-12-09T21:59:46.171Z
  • JM solved 2023-12-09T22:38:12.497Z
  • Laura M solved 2023-12-09T22:54:34.586Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2023-12-09T23:07:54.036Z
  • benchen71 solved 2023-12-10T00:08:49.602Z
  • rvkal solved 2023-12-10T00:16:13.792Z
  • markhr solved 2023-12-10T01:37:00.761Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2023-12-10T02:22:20.702Z
  • lbray53 solved 2023-12-10T13:21:42.723Z
  • boharr solved 2023-12-10T13:27:55.033Z
  • MatthewL solved 2023-12-10T17:36:16.096Z
  • Gutman solved 2023-12-10T17:48:11.992Z
  • Philip Chow solved 2023-12-10T21:02:33.333Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2023-12-10T22:17:36.596Z
  • Steve M solved 2023-12-10T22:50:35.512Z
  • rjy solved 2023-12-10T22:52:37.970Z
  • heidi solved 2023-12-10T23:12:06.951Z
  • andeux solved 2023-12-11T01:11:47.920Z
  • BarbaraK solved 2023-12-11T03:01:18.057Z
  • DIS solved 2023-12-11T20:10:47.699Z
  • Schmeel solved 2023-12-12T05:27:04.712Z
  • Abide solved 2023-12-12T13:21:21.673Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2023-12-12T20:42:09.397Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2023-12-12T23:59:26.054Z
  • Bird Lives solved 2023-12-13T18:37:08.730Z
  • DrTom solved 2023-12-13T21:50:29.743Z
  • DCBilly solved 2023-12-14T14:46:26.963Z
  • Darth solved 2023-12-14T23:02:23.128Z
  • KayW solved 2023-12-16T03:22:14.647Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2023-12-17T21:21:07.278Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2023-12-18T14:40:57.431Z
  • hoover solved 2023-12-18T18:57:29.088Z
  • Darrell solved 2023-12-21T20:39:05.495Z
  • Tane solved 2023-12-23T06:21:56.206Z
  • woozy solved 2023-12-23T17:10:47.273Z
  • Dow Jones solved 2023-12-24T04:41:40.942Z
  • Katiedid solved 2024-01-20T01:37:01.142Z
  • Alvibu67 solved 2024-01-26T05:01:24.668Z

Comments

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  • Mikey G constructor · 2023-12-09T18:20:17.550Z
    Answer: MANY HAPPY RETURNS
    Explanation: Sixteen of the entries in the grid are spelled out backward in the very beginning of their clues (i.e., Subway alternative = BUS). Thus, if you start a few letters in (either the 3rd or the 4th), and go backward to the beginning, in each of 16 clues, you'll spell out the actual clue entries. A sample of others include GNU, TIDE, and the bizarre, esoteric clue for ROY, the last to drop on my end. Per the theme of spelling out backward, taking the last letters of these entries in right-left, bottom-up order, we spell out MANY HAPPY RETURNS, a fitting seasonal answer...especially if you didn't get what you wanted! ("They could've just given us gift cards!") Finding all the clue-entry pairs, constructing a tight grid, and editing carefully was probably about a 6- to 8-hour enterprise for this one! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of you!
    • Hector 🤓5:44 · 2023-12-09T18:51:46.749Z
      Ah! I'd listed the clue words in grid order of the entries, which doesn't give the right order, even backwards. So I just anagrammed my way to the answer, suspecting that I was missing something. Thanks and happy holidays!
      • Bird Lives 5s · 2023-12-13T18:45:04.262Z
        I put them in a spreadsheet. Then beside the column with the entries, I started another column with the letters reversed (BUS SUB, etc.). After the first two, Excel filled in all the rest. Then, I inverted the spreadheet. Not perfect, but close enough.
      • Berto 🤓1:51 · 2023-12-09T19:27:57.138Z
        Many Happy Returns to you, too Mikey!!!
        • oldjudge 6s · 2023-12-09T20:01:48.722Z
          Hector--It works. Do it on a grid. The last letters of the down entries fall below some higher number across entries. Great job Mikey!
          • Meg 4:41 · 2023-12-09T20:18:33.384Z
            Liked the order of the letters. Thanks, Mikey!
            • Mikey G constructor · 2023-12-09T23:27:07.609Z
              At least when seeding the entries, I flipped a couple that ruined the order. This took several times to get right!
            • I K Snamhcok 1s · 2023-12-09T20:04:16.833Z
              Mikey, as long as you keep making such fun puzzles, I will. Return, that is. Thanks!
              • DJB 2s · 2023-12-09T20:18:09.963Z
                Wonderful puzzle!
                • SamKat9 🤓13:24 · 2023-12-09T22:00:56.145Z
                  I had a few wrong guesses before realizing I need to read the letters as shown on the grid backwards lol Awesome construction, and I enjoyed it!
                  • Laura M 🤓11:01 · 2023-12-09T22:56:53.334Z
                    Thanks, and to you as well! Took me some time to figure out the ordering, but it all made sense in the end :-)
                    • Tyrpmom 2s · 2023-12-09T23:11:04.632Z
                      Thanks! That was a WOW puzzle.
                      • rvkal 🤓7:22 · 2023-12-10T00:17:43.713Z
                        Really cool construction, clues, and meta! Great puzzle!
                        • boharr 4s · 2023-12-10T13:28:58.312Z
                          Same to you Mikey. And thanks!
                          • MatthewL 🤓8:54 · 2023-12-10T17:38:02.918Z
                            Great puzzle, Mikey! As usual. Won't be returning this one. Thanks!
                            • Philip Chow 🤓8:26 · 2023-12-10T21:04:57.690Z
                              nice puzzle! title + awkward cluing helped a lot to see what was going on... never heard this phrase before so i thought it was a pun you made up about buying stuff for the holidays but then having buyer's remorse so want to get a refund on everything you bought 😂
                              • Mikey G constructor · 2023-12-11T19:19:36.856Z
                                That was the intent, though, haha! I think it's more of a European phrase than an American one, but I like the pun on taking gifts back (and on the words "returning," which is likely a cryptic indicator for reversing).
                              • Abide 3s · 2023-12-12T13:28:30.237Z
                                Super solid. I went to bed last night grumbling about how to deal with the 16 words. While shaving this morning, I thought “maybe anagramming?” Got the answer and then figured out the backward elegance.
                                • Bird Lives 5s · 2023-12-13T18:38:37.802Z
                                  Ooh, nice. Another great instance of title, metanism, and answer all in sync.
                                  • DrTom 5s · 2023-12-13T21:53:43.163Z
                                    Brilliant! I sat there and wondered how many of these you had written down because you saw them at some point in the past or if you saw one (probably BUS SUB) and said "Hey, wait a minute...."
                                    Whichever, what a great idea for a meta. You definitely have some of the most unique mechanisms. I enjoyed the heck out of it (BUS SUB was my way in by the way) and did not even need the nudges.
                                    • Darth 26:11 · 2023-12-14T23:04:34.753Z
                                      Wow! Amazing work! Thanks Mikey! ;)
                                      • KayW 🤓8:55 · 2023-12-16T03:26:27.492Z
                                        ...and even more brilliant - it wasn't even anagrammed. All I had to do was read it in reverse order. What a construction!!
                                        • KayW 🤓8:55 · 2023-12-16T03:23:23.294Z
                                          LOL back at ya Mikey!! I tried anagrams til I was blue in the face and didn't see THAT one. Somehow I convinced myself PUN or PUNNY had to be one of the words. I can't imagine why, haha.
                                          • HeadinHome 🤓1:09 · 2023-12-17T21:22:47.702Z
                                            That. Was. Awesome!! Got to this very late as usual; I’m glad the solution wasn’t up yet. I was stuck for a while with only the across ones circled… and kept thinking that center word was going to PARTY (celebrate). I suspect I’m not alone in that!
                                            • Mikey G constructor · 2023-12-23T18:33:32.469Z
                                              And the holidays are always a party! (Especially with eggnog.)
                                            • woozy 15:49 · 2023-12-23T17:24:57.065Z
                                              Argh... very frustrating in making my notes I entered "NOH" as HON and I somehow skipped writting TRAP. "SUNRETPRYNAAMYN? Okay, backwards and sideways that's MA-NY NA-P(r)Y RET-U(R)N-S. Many Happy returns. The 'many' and 'returns' are too good not to be true but PYNA to 'happy'?..."
                                              But I entered SUNRETPRYNAAMYN into an anagramer and got "Amer puns tyranny" which is not totally inappropriate.....
                                              • Mikey G constructor · 2023-12-23T18:33:11.755Z
                                                And it looks like there might be one missing! Not sure! Yeah, I think I had one meta (SINGULAR a while back) that involved anagramming. I try to avoid the answer being spelled out that way at all costs!
                                                • woozy 15:49 · 2023-12-23T23:05:57.609Z
                                                  I found TRAP/Partake. I just when writing my notes down forget to include it (Although I didn't find TIDE/Edit at first I'll admit). I wrote them down both first and last letters [I thought that may be part of the trick] but switched the order of Hon/NOH. Didn't really think about the last letters would stop being in grid order (although that is obvious in hindsight). I'd like to think if I had included TraP and NoH so I got SUNRETPRYPHAAMYN I would have figured it was grid order. As it was it was almost grid order but the big deal was how to get HAPPY from RYNA so who knows if I'd have gotten it. As I absolutely inable to proof my own errors I would NEVER have noticed I transcribed NOH backwards (although I might have eventually counted my letters to realize I left out TRAP)
                                              1A
                                              Subway alternative
                                              1
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                                              4
                                              5
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                                              9
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                                              12
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                                              17
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                                              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
                                              Across
                                              1. 1A
                                                Subway alternative
                                              2. 4A
                                                "2-Minute Drill" network
                                              3. 8A
                                                Country whose name comes from element #47, briefly
                                              4. 11A
                                                "Either these terrible puns go ___ do!"
                                              5. 12A
                                                Fermented soybean paste that comes in kome and mugi varieties
                                              6. 13A
                                                Name of Crown Dependency between Great Britain and Ireland
                                              7. 14A
                                                Racer that might be exhausted, har har
                                              8. 15A
                                                "That crossword suit is perfect!"
                                              9. 17A
                                                Unfamiliar
                                              10. 19A
                                                Leaves for a drink?
                                              11. 20A
                                                Tennis requirement (my tennis puns make quite a racket)
                                              12. 22A
                                                Editions of this were the first items ever sold with fluorescent packaging (1959)
                                              13. 26A
                                                Vast
                                              14. 30A
                                                Rabble-rousers might cause trouble outside one (but my favorite is chocolate, so what do I know)
                                              15. 31A
                                                Yorkshire County Cricket Club batsman Kilner
                                              16. 32A
                                                Partake in subterfuge, maybe
                                              17. 34A
                                                67.5 deg.
                                              18. 35A
                                                Acts human, in a way
                                              19. 36A
                                                Comes out of a bedroom at noon, perhaps (the son also rises)
                                              20. 38A
                                                Sesame starter?
                                              21. 40A
                                                Area of concern for MLB pitchers
                                              22. 41A
                                                Animal I give a hoot about LOL
                                              23. 44A
                                                Guzzles a bunch of eggnog, perhaps
                                              24. 48A
                                                Amorphous
                                              25. 52A
                                                Hue's partner
                                              26. 53A
                                                Yachts might travel to one
                                              27. 54A
                                                Never could an odd integer be this
                                              28. 55A
                                                PC linkup that someone has used at some point, apparently
                                              29. 56A
                                                AQI monitor
                                              30. 57A
                                                Sea-soning that might be a pretzel sharpener (oof)
                                              31. 58A
                                                Soul, on the Seine (that's also the middle of an ornament?)
                                              Down
                                              1. 1D
                                                "Are you trying to keep us out of Del ___ Vista??" (Frank Costanza)
                                              2. 2D
                                                Caspian sea feeder (and if you think I never confuse this with the similar sea, ___ wrong!)
                                              3. 3D
                                                "She" has said, "I'm not in it for the money. But I do accept verbal high fives"
                                              4. 4D
                                                Distinguished
                                              5. 5D
                                                "Here's a solution, what if we all stop standing? "Yes, that's ___!"
                                              6. 6D
                                                "Hey, you! I've got a puzzle!"
                                              7. 7D
                                                I'm not sure why my sinuses are bothering me, but my otorhinolaryngologist ___
                                              8. 8D
                                                Grant, e.g.
                                              9. 9D
                                                Pasta sauce brand that causes a row when you spell it backward
                                              10. 10D
                                                Ungulate mammal (what's this with you?)
                                              11. 16D
                                                Stable particle?
                                              12. 18D
                                                En-deer-ing crosswordese mother of Faline and Gobo
                                              13. 21D
                                                I have some puns about changing my spare, but you'll ___ of them
                                              14. 23D
                                                "___ to differ!" (What I say when someone says crosswords aren't cool)
                                              15. 24D
                                                Great specimen
                                              16. 25D
                                                "___ Tú" (1973 hit by Mocedades)
                                              17. 26D
                                                "___ Milk Dunk Ugly Christmas Sweater" (item to buy on this company's website since I just looked it up)
                                              18. 27D
                                                Proctor & Gamble, briefly
                                              19. 28D
                                                Surname of character who reflects, "It was Christmas week: we took to no settled employment, but spent it in a sort of merry domestic dissipation"
                                              20. 29D
                                                "It ___ Upon the Midnight Clear"
                                              21. 33D
                                                4 : dollar sign :: 5 : ___
                                              22. 37D
                                                "Yay team!"
                                              23. 39D
                                                Honshu drama
                                              24. 42D
                                                If you're sad about your flowers not growing, you must have a ___ garden
                                              25. 43D
                                                Avalanche out of a volcano (it's a hot topic)
                                              26. 45D
                                                When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, ___
                                              27. 46D
                                                Marginal unit of measurement
                                              28. 47D
                                                Last word of title of song whose lyrics reference "a cup of kindness yet"
                                              29. 48D
                                                "Want to go skating later? "What an ___ idea!"
                                              30. 49D
                                                I'm down for one
                                              31. 50D
                                                "bye 4 now"
                                              32. 51D
                                                No. on a card, maybe
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