MEOW #43: Connect Four

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 #43: Connect Four

#1

Post by madhatter5 »

Hi all and welcome to the forty-third installment of the MEOW!


The answer to this meta is an eight-letter word.


Sorry for the lack of a .puz file - it was not able to handle this particular grid due to the empty squares.




Lynx:


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



Good luck!





Kitten

Calico

Persian

Puma

Lion
Last edited by madhatter5 on Wed Sep 22, 2021 4:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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benchen71
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#2

Post by benchen71 »

Jeepers! Not giving us much to work with here.
Check out "The MOAT MEOW Mashup Pack" here. US$10 for 14 metas that don't always abide by the "rules" of the game: asymmetry, 2-letter words, uncrossed letters, who knows. And this time there's a mega-meta! :shock:
madhatter5
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#3

Post by madhatter5 »

Clarification: 9D begins with a V :)
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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boharr
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#4

Post by boharr »

madhatter5 wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 8:32 am Clarification: 9D begins with a V :)
Now don't go counting this as a nudge.
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woozy
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#5

Post by woozy »

"Sorry for the lack of a .puz file - it was not able to handle this particular grid due to the empty squares."

So.... does that mean there was a reason you couldn't replace each empty square with 36 black squares? Can I consider that a hint?
Latest meta: Never forget... and never mind (A WSJ retaliation)
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RPardoe
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#6

Post by RPardoe »

Solved and submitted.
Edit: confirmed (though there is no doubt once you get it.)
madhatter5
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#7

Post by madhatter5 »

woozy wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:21 pm "Sorry for the lack of a .puz file - it was not able to handle this particular grid due to the empty squares."

So.... does that mean there was a reason you couldn't replace each empty square with 36 black squares? Can I consider that a hint?

Shhh...
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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boharr
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#8

Post by boharr »

madhatter5 wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 1:55 pm
woozy wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:21 pm "Sorry for the lack of a .puz file - it was not able to handle this particular grid due to the empty squares."

So.... does that mean there was a reason you couldn't replace each empty square with 36 black squares? Can I consider that a hint?

Shhh...
Now this one you can count as a nudge.
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Darth
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#9

Post by Darth »

Hmmm...If I didn't know there was an intelligent creator behind all of this, I'd call it random madness and just give up! ;)

Edited: Yes, INDEED an intelligent creator! Brilliant! (And may the "fourth" be with you! :D)
Last edited by Darth on Wed Sep 22, 2021 9:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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oldjudge
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#10

Post by oldjudge »

I think the cat is finally out of the bag after a lot of wrong turns. Confirmed.
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boharr
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#11

Post by boharr »

Well, it took all day but I believe my cat has left the bag.
Confirmed. Very clever puzzle.
Last edited by boharr on Thu Sep 23, 2021 8:31 am, edited 1 time in total.
Dplass
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#12

Post by Dplass »

Submitted, after another Muggle made an important observation.

Thanks for the puzzle, and VERY well done!
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ChrisKochmanski
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#13

Post by ChrisKochmanski »

The cat has left the building!

Needed help on this one. Still fun.
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woozy
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#14

Post by woozy »

boharr wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 2:03 pm
madhatter5 wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 1:55 pm
woozy wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:21 pm "Sorry for the lack of a .puz file - it was not able to handle this particular grid due to the empty squares."

So.... does that mean there was a reason you couldn't replace each empty square with 36 black squares? Can I consider that a hint?

Shhh...
Now this one you can count as a nudge.
I .... don't get it.
Latest meta: Never forget... and never mind (A WSJ retaliation)
SewYoung
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#15

Post by SewYoung »

Me neither. I'm at a total loss. Hoping for some insight after sleeping on it.
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CPJohnson
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#16

Post by CPJohnson »

Can't even finish the grid.
Cynthia
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HeadinHome
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#17

Post by HeadinHome »

I BELIEVE I have the grid (hard to know, without any crossing words), and I see a start of something, but what to do with it I can't figure out. Looking forward to the nudges for this one... I clearly need some.
The other Wendy. :roll:
madhatter5
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#18

Post by madhatter5 »

Anyone unsure whether their grid entries are correct can message me for confirmation (or confirm themselves on the web app). Sorry that wasn't supposed to be a sticking point!
https://pandorasblocks.org/crosswords-for-cancer
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HeadinHome
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#19

Post by HeadinHome »

Yup - I do indeed have the grid correct. Awaiting the nudge day. (When is that?)
The other Wendy. :roll:
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Cinny
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#20

Post by Cinny »

Cat is out of the bag. Fun solve in the end.
Cindy Heisler
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