MEOW #178 Loose Connections

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.
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Darth
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#21

Post by Darth »

woozy wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2024 10:45 pm Well, this is the exact opposite of Ben's MOAT yesterday.
From my own solving experience, I find it interesting how one meta "clicks" and another "doesn't click" for whatever odd reason. Perhaps there's some strange and mysterious "meta psychology" at play, but patience and perseverance pay off in the end!
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Cinny
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#22

Post by Cinny »

The cat has escaped, although I tried my darndest to keep him in the bag!

Thanks, Darth!
Cindy Heisler
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ajk
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#23

Post by ajk »

Needed the nudges to steer me to the correct version of the thing I started out trying to do. Thanks. :)
Check out this very cool project by many of your favorite muggles to raise money to fight cancer. You get a fun puzzle bundle and good causes get $. Win-win: Crosswords for Cancer
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benchen71
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#24

Post by benchen71 »

Yay! The cat is free!! Boy, did I over-complicate it. :D
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:
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sharkicicles
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#25

Post by sharkicicles »

Still haven’t “drank the Champaign” on this one yet…

EDIT: and of course as soon as I post this, I get it. Thanks Darth!
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Darth
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#26

Post by Darth »

Leader Board Update:
electrical-short-circuit.jpg
(I'll add the names of solvers here until the "reveal" at 11PM Tuesday): total = 56
Tyrpmom
woozy
Carolyn
Steve M
Cinny (Cindy Heisler)
ajk
michaelm
CPJohnson
DCBilly
Elana
benchen71
sharkicicles
Eric Porter
Dow Jones
BarbaraK
Sobekneferu
DIS
Sanna
Cap'n Rick
Al Sisti
ELSavage
Jaclyn
kurtalert
atsiricajr111191
Last edited by Darth on Wed May 01, 2024 10:04 am, edited 10 times in total.
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Eric Porter
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#27

Post by Eric Porter »

Out of the bag, just missing the leader board update. My first time through the hints I missed #5. Thanks Darth!
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Darth
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#28

Post by Darth »

Eric Porter wrote: ↑Thu Apr 25, 2024 7:27 pm Out of the bag, just missing the leader board update. My first time through the hints I missed #5. Thanks Darth!
Thank you, Eric! Leader board updates are ongoing... Hoping to see the number of solvers grow.
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Cap'n Rick
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#29

Post by Cap'n Rick »

Finally got around to solving this one, and I'm glad I did! Very well-constructed and executed, @Darth!
Ahoy! Check out my meta puzzles here! Check out "Smooth Sailing Sundays" here!
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Darth
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#30

Post by Darth »

Thanks for trying Loose Connections! It looked a bit
daunting perhaps, but let me break it down for you...

1024x683.jpg
Solution: Based on the puzzle title, first... Find words in the grid with a "loose" connection. There are seven, listed here in grid order:
4A. Feature of a "daredevil" circus act = (loose) CANNON
19A Investigation outcomes = (loose) ENDS
24A Tip jar contents = (loose) CHANGE
37A Textual rendering... = (loose) TRANSLATION
52A "I'm __ it up!" (expression of indulgence) = (loose) LIVING
57A Notebook paper, or "true" tea = (loose) LEAF
68A Gossip spreader? = (loose) TONGUE


Now what?........................................ Take the first letter of these clues to spell an "appropriate" word, and then add "loose" to complete the two-word pun: LOOSE FITTING
4A. Feature of a "daredevil" circus act = (loose) CANNON
19A Investigation outcomes = (loose) ENDS
24A Tip jar contents = (loose) CHANGE
37A Textual rendering... = (loose) TRANSLATION
52A "I'm __ it up!" (expression of indulgence) = (loose) LIVING
57A Notebook paper, or "true" tea = (loose) LEAF
68A Gossip spreader? = (loose) TONGUE
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