MEOW #27: Gordian Knot

A weekly meta crossword on the forum started by member Josh (aka madhatter5). These puzzles are often very creative with solving mechanisms out of the norm and skewing towards the more challenging. Puzzles are posted every Wednesday, and the solution appears the following Tuesday.
madhatter5
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MEOW #27: Gordian Knot

#1

Post by madhatter5 »

Hi all and welcome to the twenty-seventh installment of the MEOW!


The answer to this meta is a seven-letter word.


Sorry for two pumas in a row. I'll be sure to throw a softball next week to make up for it.


https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing
http://crossword.info/madhatter5/Gordian_Knot


Good solving!



Kitten

Calico

Persian

Puma

Lion
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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whimsy
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#2

Post by whimsy »

What else? --
Capturecatscradle.PNG
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BrennerTJ
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#3

Post by BrennerTJ »

Puma on the loose. 🐈
-Tamara
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Joe Ross
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#4

Post by Joe Ross »

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Cindy
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#5

Post by Cindy »

solved
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Meg
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#6

Post by Meg »

The cat has fled my Trader Joe's recyclable bag. One rule of meta solving: don’t make up a rule about a step in the process and then get stuck because the constructor isn’t following it. Silly cat.
Check out and support http://CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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Hector
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#7

Post by Hector »

Clever meta. Had a supported but iffy-feeling answer initially, but the correct one is 100%.
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boharr
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#8

Post by boharr »

Cat had fun escaping the bag.
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oldjudge
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#9

Post by oldjudge »

Solved
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ChrisKochmanski
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#10

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

Where did that puma go?

Awaiting confirmation, but how could it not be?

Very nice!
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MamaE
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#11

Post by MamaE »

OK - got the first step, pretty sure I have the second.....no clue what to do next. This puma is putting up a fight!
Image

The cat has been tamed and is now out of the bag. Thanks to @oldjudge for helping me to see that I already basically had the answer.
Last edited by MamaE on Thu Jun 03, 2021 11:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Just puzzling it out here in Delmarva :D
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Dannyvee
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#12

Post by Dannyvee »

Got it
I can be found in Sheridan, NY, veejaying. (8)
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DrTom
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#13

Post by DrTom »

Wow, I thought I had this one all cued up to solve but I cannot clear the last hurdle. RATS, guess I'll have to keep looking but it seems like it should be right there! Cat remains knotted up in the bag.
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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KayW
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#14

Post by KayW »

I see the first step for sure, but this puma is still stringing me along...
catknots.png
Contest Crosswords Combating Cancer (CCCC) is a bundle of 16 metapuzzles created to help raise money for cancer-related charities. It is available at CrosswordsForCancer.com.
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DrTom
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#15

Post by DrTom »

Well I am out of the bag! I got a nudge from Josh that really didn't help me much but when I went back in and said "Darn it this HAS to be the mechanism" I tried something that eventually led to a "brute force" solution and a word that has to be right. So, still awaiting official confirmation but I believe the kitty can now go out into the yard.
bag-of-cats-3.jpg
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!
Laura M
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#16

Post by Laura M »

The cat is out! Nice one! I've been MIA for boring reasons but am trying to catch up.
madhatter5
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#17

Post by madhatter5 »

Nudge Saturday!

Notice anything unusual or interesting about the across entries left of the knot?

The entry at 28D has a few meanings. Think of what it might mean in the context of words (in particular, the words referenced in nudge #1). When you do so what do you notice about the results?

You'll need to 28D seven entries to the left of the knot, and then seven entries to the right of the knot.
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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HeadinHome
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#18

Post by HeadinHome »

The nudges didn’t help .. i had already figured out those steps but had one .. um .. association that messed up the solution for a long time. Got it now.
The other Wendy. :roll:
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Beth Tyrpin
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#19

Post by Beth Tyrpin »

Going back through my clipboard of unsolved puzzles this morning. I got this one finished nudge free this morning and gotta say I really loved it.
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Cinny
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#20

Post by Cinny »

I've had the first half of this solved for days, but it wasn't until this morning that I had that "aha" moment. Great puzzle!!
The cat is out! 🐱
Cindy Heisler
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