The answer to the meta is something associated with 42 across
Because we all shop online these days, you shouldn't have any trouble solving this meta, the answer for which is something associated with 42 across. Answer and explanation: https://www.xword-muggles.com/viewtopic.php?p=96831#p96831
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ON E) the ROSO/OUR crossing felt so awkward and easily change-able into ROSE-EUR unless it had to do with the meta somehow
T WO) you could have done this without the 6 with a singular answer, but you included it anyway
TH REE) the SIX requires an X, and that section ends up having two more Xs with just a bit of EXTRA crosswordese (and no completely made up stuff like "IT'S "NA" ")
F OUR) the grid ends up hiding a SEVEN backwards, between ONION and EVES overlapping with the ONE (thankfully that didn't come into play)
FI VE) I massively overthought this looking at the numbers (Roman numerals) in IJOHN and ROCKYV and then trying to do something with all the Is and Vs in the grid, and even the Xs
SI X) the first number I actually noticed is the totally accidental TEN backwards within ARNETT.
I was conscious of the roman numerals, but left them in basically to make the grid as easy as possible; but as you noticed, plenty of crossowordese still made it in. I was completely oblivious to the backward numbers! So glad you enjoyed it.
Nice one, Ben! It was a step-2 intensive meta for me as there were so many ways the numbers could translate to letters.
DIS 🤓6:27 · 2022-06-14T14:45:27.171Z
I dig it!
I K Snamhcok 2s · 2022-06-14T15:23:01.269Z
Ben, I loved this one! WSJCC or MGWCC worthy, I’d say. Thanks!
KayW 🤓8:32 · 2022-06-15T23:44:33.686Z
Very clever! And LOL even after the nudges, at I first counted only to FIVE.
Before the nudges I was trying the Is and Os (looking for letters that either they were following, or were following them) and roman numerals.
whimsy 🤓18:07 · 2022-06-16T00:15:18.193Z
Thanks for that last nudge, Ben -- just what I needed to stop looking at the squares with those numbers in them!
DrTom 5s · 2022-06-16T05:47:14.023Z
Well DARN I had all the numbers but left one out in solving so I got ORDER not ORDERS - silly rabbit! Nicely hidden Ben!
Thanks for the shove. I would have never gotten it otherwise. I just never wild have thought to look at the first letter in the grid...maybe that's why it has played so tough?
Bird Lives 3s · 2022-06-16T15:16:53.900Z
I saw the TWO early on, but for some reason disregarded it till the nudge refocused my attention. Very clever.
Cindy Heisler 6s · 2022-06-16T17:43:01.392Z
Had part of it, but needed the final nudge. Thanks, Ben!
Tyrpmom 2s · 2022-06-17T03:18:02.595Z
Led astray by numbers in clues and Roman numerals. Nudges required.