The Doctor's Orders

A weekly meta crossword created by members of the forum. Difficulty levels will vary. Hints are usually available starting Wednesday, and solutions are posted on Sunday.
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Bird Lives
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The Doctor's Orders

#1

Post by Bird Lives »

Blue Monday, said Fats Domino. If only he’d had a meta to distract him, he would have sung,“I found my thrill/ right there in the fill,” rather than up on that fruity knoll.

Today I offer “The Doctor’s Orders,” the doctor being the one you’re thinking of. In fact, you should mentally do a global replace so that every time you see “Tom” in a clue, you think “DrTom.”

The Doctors Orders.puz
The Doctors Orders.pdf

20210524 MMM Bird Lives — The Doctors Orders — Excel form

An alternate clue for 24A might be “I can’t wait to use my movie-editing software, said Tom _______ly.” I mean, it might be that if I thought people were familiar with the names of video-editing software packages. Solvers are invited to submit alternate Swifty clues for any of the other entries in the grid.

The answer is an applicable word.

The difficulty level is not all that hard. That's just a guess. YMMV.
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Last edited by Bird Lives on Mon May 24, 2021 11:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
Jay
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RPardoe
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#2

Post by RPardoe »

@Bird Lives forgot to mention add: The answer is an applicable word

Answer submitted, but no alternate Swifty clues came to mind.
I suspect the assembled muggle crowd will not disappoint there.
madhatter5
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#3

Post by madhatter5 »

3D: "Truth be told, I had some expensive meat again," Tom ____ed

9D: "I'm a Prime Minister and a witch!," Tom ___
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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BrennerTJ
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#4

Post by BrennerTJ »

39A: "Did you find any change in the couch?," asked Tom ___ly.
-Tamara
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Hector
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#5

Post by Hector »

17A "This wetsuit irritates my skin," Tom said ____ly.
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cbarbee002
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#6

Post by cbarbee002 »

Submitted. Confirmed.

65A "Is that a funnel cloud heading our way?", asked Tom ______ly.
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hcbirker
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#7

Post by hcbirker »

Loved this one! Off the couch.
Heidi
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boharr
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#8

Post by boharr »

Off the couch, he said ______ly.

This was a fun one!
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auee89
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#9

Post by auee89 »

32A I always wanted to be a Canuck rued Tom ____ly

Off the couch - thanks Bird!
Kevin
Schmeel
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#10

Post by Schmeel »

11D: "Off the couch, but still in the box," said Tom ___ly.
Thanks for the puzzle!
hoover
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#11

Post by hoover »

Off the couch, pending confirmation.

5D Is this mod. con. flat really right for me, asked Tom ___ly.
9A There's something wrong with that girl Emily that I met on the train, declared Tom _____ly.
35D It's just a flesh wound, snarled Tom ____ly.

Update: confirmed.
Last edited by hoover on Mon May 24, 2021 2:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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whimsy
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#12

Post by whimsy »

No meta yet but can't resist playing!
(Even though not quite following the rules, as usual.)

43A "Why isn't my gold in this puzzle?" asked Tom ______ly.
34A "My favorite character in 'Gone With the Wind' is definitely not Scarlett, said Tom _____ly.
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Bob cruise director
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#13

Post by Bob cruise director »

Victor Appleton is disguised as Bird Lives
Bob Stevens
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jhseeman
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#14

Post by jhseeman »

Off the couch - waiting for confirmation

31A - "You mere mortals wish you had the power of pun that I have" said DrTom _____ly
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Bob cruise director
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#15

Post by Bob cruise director »

Off the couch waiting confirmation

44A "Where is that Dickenson University" said Tom ___ ly?

p.s I had to highlight my grid to find out which words were not taken
Bob Stevens
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DrTom
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#16

Post by DrTom »

Well BirdLives, thanks for the homage. Even this close to the end of the month I do not find it dismaying! This will be part of a quartet of these puzzles (WSJ, MG, PB, MM) I have done said Tom metaphorically. I do have to admit that so far I have not seen your method Tom, commented mechanistically but hope to stumble upon it soon, Tom added trippingly. Unfortunately right now I have to go clean my charcoal grill which rather spectacularly burst into flames last night (luckily after the ribs were cooked). So I am suiting up with some scrapers, degreaser and steel wool, Tom chimed in abrasively!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges where needed; metas should be about fun, not frustration. Send me what you have done so far because often you are closer than you think!
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ky-mike
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#17

Post by ky-mike »

As I lay sleepily on the couch, the good doctor quickly and smoothly coaxed me off of it.
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oldjudge
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#18

Post by oldjudge »

Off the couch. I loved the puzzle. I learned a few new things and some of the fills (like 62A) were laugh out loud funny.

My roommate is a jerk said Eve ______ly.
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joequavis
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#19

Post by joequavis »

Submitted...and confirmed

57D: "You'll never solve this one, Frankie!", Tom _____led.
Last edited by joequavis on Mon May 24, 2021 4:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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sharkicicles
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#20

Post by sharkicicles »

Still couldn’t get Final Cut Pro to fit into 24a.

Edit: but I did get the puzzle. And really enjoyed the clues.
Last edited by sharkicicles on Mon May 24, 2021 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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