The answer to the meta is an 8-letter word that suggests things might be looking up
Last night as I was reading in bed, I thought of a possible metanism. I did a quick OneLook.com search for a few terms, just to see if the idea could work, wrote a short note so I wouldn't forget it, and then went to sleep. Then, in the early morning, I spent a couple of hours tossing and turning, coming up with the puzzle specifics. Memo to self: don't get meta ideas late at night! The answer to the meta is an 8-letter word that suggests things might be looking up. Answer & explanation: https://www.xword-muggles.com/viewtopic.php?p=135933#p135934
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Great puzzle. I am so envious of all of you coming up with ideas and I can only hope to lose sleep over getting one... then again, if it takes me over an hour to solve such a simple meta, perhaps I should leave well enough alone (and simplicity is not a dig on you or your puzzle, but on me and my complete failure to just look at the initial letters... sigh)
Tyrpmom 1s · 2023-07-11T14:57:33.486Z
Brilliant!
whimsy 15:40 · 2023-07-11T15:18:49.780Z
Stymied as to how to get more letters until I recalled the prompt was "suggests." :-)
Thank you, Ben, for a fun one!
MatthewL 🤓8:34 · 2023-07-11T15:52:07.186Z
Clever one. Took me a bit to grok the meta, but ultimately it clicked. Grid was very good, as were the clues. Got a chuckle out of 34D. Thanks, Ben!
My thinking was WATER, ICE, NIGHT and DOWN can all be followed by FALL (as suggested by the puzzle title). I think that makes WINDFALL work better than TAILWIND.
hoover 2s · 2023-07-11T16:57:16.764Z
Whew! Finally hit on the right WIND compound. I tried DOWNWIND, TAILWIND, HEADWIND, EAST WIND, WINDWARD, and a few others. I agree with the other folks that TAILWIND is better.
What no one has commented on is that WATER, ICE, NIGHT and DOWN can all be followed by FALL (as suggested by the puzzle title). I think that makes WINDFALL work better than TAILWIND.
OK, got it but not without going with what I thought was more logical with wind being spelled by the down words and the Title being Quick Descent. So I went with WIND DOWN because that is when the worst is over, stress is declining and things are starting to look good again. Still it is not a word as much as it is two words. I had already discarded WIND BACK because rewinding doesn't mean things are looking up. But WINDFALL fits the definition, the theme and prompt (AN 8 letter word) perfectly. Oh, and I don't care about unchecked squares or two letter words if the meta is fun, and it was!!!
Another hand raised for TAILWIND (same thought as DIS), but click was obviously stronger for WINDFALL once I saw it. Also spent some time looking for other examples in the grid -- I SAID NO at 26A, WEEK at 33A, VAN UNLOAD(?) at 46A, ELIE (??) at 60A. But when none of those matched alternate clues I gave up. :)
The idea was WATER, ICE, NIGHT and DOWN can all be followed by FALL (as suggested by the puzzle title). I think that makes WINDFALL work better than TAILWIND.
Completely agree, for the reasons you give. When I entered TAILWIND I momentarily forgot that I had decided it was important that the down parts were all real words. :)
Agree with all that TAILWIND is a cute answer, but WINDFALL was what occurred to me first. I considered FAIR WIND for a second too, but “fall” is obviously what is going on! Also agree that we are glad that you, Sir Ben, are a member of this table!!
You're very welcome! I absolutely adore constructing (and doing) meta crosswords, but I am glad that others appreciate my hobby. :-)
KayW 🤓8:53 · 2023-07-11T21:00:25.975Z
woohoo! A very creative metanism. I saw WIND when I first solved this puzzle, but it took letting it percolate on the back burner for a few hours for the rest to come to mind. Thanks Ben!
Qmark 4s · 2023-07-13T08:40:16.243Z
Nice one, Ben!
ReB 4s · 2023-07-14T01:36:08.977Z
Good puzzle, just couldn't connect the threads without nudging. But alas, windfalls all too often blow away...
Carolyn 3s · 2023-07-14T05:38:20.153Z
I got lost in a rabbit warren but finally saw the light. Nice puzzle!
Ergcat 🤓13:58 · 2023-07-14T17:35:08.847Z
very nice puzzle. After I read the nudges, I looked back at my notes and saw that I had it but didn't see it at the time! Duh! Thank you, Ben!