Re: Conjunction Junction
Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2024 7:55 am
@DrTom How surreal, I clipped that Wizard of Id strip out of the paper back in the day and kept it in my desk drawer for at least 20 years.
The meta answer is "UNIONS", "and" there are 6 of them depicted in the grid by 12 symmetrically-placed theme entries "and" 3 large plus (+) signs in the black squares. When joined across these little "conjunction junctions" (both Across and Down), the 6 paired theme entries formed phrases that fit 6 other clues. The first letters of these 6 alternate entries, in grid order, spelled the meta answer.
A few solvers thought the answer was "UNISON", since 40D SAHARA is indeed a "HOT and DRY" place. However, the clue for SAHARA, a proper noun, was "Northern African expanse," which doesn't really match up with "HOT and DRY", a pair of adjectives. The better alternate clue was 55D "Desertlike" (SERE). So, a temporary little "sand trap" for some of you
, but I think everyone figured it out in the end.Thanks for solving, everyone! @Bird Lives is up next on "Smooth Sailing Sundays!"
Until next time!
Cap'n Rick