Patterned Response
◆ · Di DrTom · Pubblicato 2025-05-07T08:30:15.969Z
Meta Prompt
The answer is a response I hope to hear when you've completed the meta
I am going to apologize in advance for this puzzle. The last two have been in the lower end of the MEOW scale, but this is definitely a PUMA or worse. It is not that the mechanism is so intricate, just that it is very subtle and really unlike most of the ones I have done.
It was tested so long ago (over a year) that I am sure that even Al and Tamara, who were the original testers and even helped make it a little harder, have probably forgotten all about it.
I mean it is totally gettable, but it will take some sleuthing to see the path.
Kitten
Calico
Persian
PumaLionI'll be posting nudges, probably earlier than Friday, and will be glad to offer nudges or course corrections as needed via PM
NUDGES:
Nudge 1] I knew this would be difficult but not this difficult, of course I (much like the answer) may be biased.
Nudge 2] There are two clues that should help you. The first is 27A.
Nudge 3] The second is 55A. Use those together to stimulate your brain to make your eyes look for, well what else - PATTERNS.
Nudge 4] If you are still having a difficult time, look at the graphic and see if there are any patterns you see there.
Nudge 5] The answer is twelve letters. If you were trying to "hide" 12 letters in a puzzle with no obvious theme answers (12 themers is tough to do) and no asterisks, parentheses or numbers, how might you do it in plain sight? People have used this technique for whole words in the past, I'm just lazier than that.
REVEAL
The solution to this was tricky because it had nothing to do with clues or answers, only patterns.
Within the puzzle were twelve letters that shared a "pattern":
--X
X--
The letters in that configuration spell out THANKS A BUNCH, the meta answer.
For a graphical representation of the solve please go to:
Controllo se esistono file di gioco salvati...
1A
Ear related
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Orizzontali
- 1AEar related
- 5ACuban revolutionary
- 8ACause of a 1773 "party"
- 14ABee Gees or Supremes
- 15ACommonly part of the polloi
- 16ALady who was the first First
- 17AMaterial for a belt, jacket or gloves in France
- 18AHeat generated by friction
- 19ASupplement
- 20AMae of mortgage fame
- 23ALike a candle shining in the dark
- 24ABaddie on "Criminal Minds"
- 27AItems that come in pairs and often can be recognized by their pattern
- 30A"___ Beso" (1962 hit)
- 31AAfter expenses
- 32ASpoon-bending Geller
- 34AHonors, as a promise
- 36AMistake, which could be up your Alley
- 37A44th Vice President to friends
- 38ACities in Texas and the Ukraine
- 39AA question of motive
- 40ANational econ. yardstick
- 41AIOU's at a watering hole
- 45AMud; Comb. form
- 46A"How obvious!"
- 49AAdobe product
- 50AAdd on for sugars
- 51AChant during "The Miracle on Ice"
- 52AInterstate around Houston, if Ben Hur was driving
- 53AType of purchase
- 55AOrientation of the "slash" key, and a key aspect of the meta
- 57AA movie-worthy number of Dalmatians
- 58AParental advice, "Because I ___"
- 60ALowered a donut into coffee
- 64AAKA Victor Talking Machine
- 65ACourse where you analyze bonds: Abbr.
- 69ACommand from Captain Picard
- 70AWhat remains once someone has nibbled your ear
- 71APoker they might play in Hawaii?
- 72AIt's just over 2
- 73ACaps, Cats or cones
- 74ARod at a roast
Verticali
- 1DNon Rx med
- 2DAuthor of "In Cold Blood" familiarly
- 3DGeorge who lost America
- 4DPopular Greek Island
- 5DPlace to find a Van Dyke
- 6DIntrudes
- 7DEnd of a McDonald's song
- 8D"I don't need to hear more"
- 9DSuffix with Caesar
- 10D"___ Poetica"
- 11DAnswer to, "How did you lose all that weight?"
- 12DTeacher and astronaut McCauliffe
- 13DArt on parts
- 21DGulf emirate
- 22DBrand with a rhinoceros
- 24DFun, and frustrating, family game
- 25D"The Matrix" hero
- 26D"The Racer's Edge"
- 28DSmall anchors that sound almost like they should be bushy borders
- 29DType of grapes that are definitely not the pits
- 33DBig name in shades
- 35DGame controller, initially
- 39DCommerce grp. with a global scale
- 41DDrinking and driving, for instance
- 42DStory about money in the bank
- 43DIntersections you need to track: Abbr.
- 44DBldgs. near 43D
- 45DJustin Beiber for example
- 46D"New Rules" singer Lipa
- 47DSailor's org.
- 48DRetired Monopoly token
- 54DWhere to have les pique-niques à Paris
- 56DScottish fishing holes
- 59DSwinney, coach of the Clemson Tigers
- 61DCobra ___; Netflix series based on "The Karate Kid"
- 62DPlace to find your future chick
- 63DAnimal house
- 66DCool
- 67DCrimson foe
- 68DGood word from a French wit