MEOW #214 New Year's Resolution

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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DrTom
Posts: 4906
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#41

Post by DrTom »

One more person joins the ranks:

34 Serafin
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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DrTom
Posts: 4906
Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2019 6:46 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

#42

Post by DrTom »

OK, busy day tomorrow so I had better post the reveal now....

This played a lot harder than I thought it would. I was sure that the moment people saw RESOLUTION, particularly since I had telegraphed what I was going to do with 52A, the scales would fall away. The solution was indeed a RE solution because adding RE to all the words was the way to the Promised Land.

The alternates were all pretty specific, but perhaps a bit more esoteric than people expected. RETURN was the one that gave most people trouble because “Refuse to accept = DENY” did not score in many minds the same it did in mine, if you refuse to accept a package or letter you RETURN it.

NY Resolution Graphic Reveal SM.jpg

Nobody was fooled by the odd word that was generated - CANTED - because by then you were used to adding RE to everything and RECANTED certainly makes sense.

The turn-out was not as heavy as for the 12/25 puzzle, but then again this one is much harder and comes at a busy time. I thank the 34 people who did solve and look forward to my next chance to challenge you. The real Madhatter (Josh) is taking a turn at bat Wednesday and I hope you have your thinking caps on!
NUDGES!I am always willing to give nudges IF ASKED; metas should be about fun, not frustration. PM me what you have done so far, because often you are closer than you think, and I will try to help you move along.
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