"Fr-r-reezing!" by benchen71

Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? A weekly meta crossword constructed by forum member Ben (aka benchen71). These metas range from relatively easy to more challenging, depending on how many Australianisms he puts in them! Puzzles are posted in a new thread every Tuesday, with nudges appearing on Saturdays, and the solution coming out on Mondays. (At least, that's the plan. Given he lives in Australia, and they are so far ahead of the US time-zone-wise, things may get posted early!)
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benchen71
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"Fr-r-reezing!" by benchen71

#1

Post by benchen71 »

Welcome to...

benchen71's Metas on a Tuesday (MOAT)

Can you storm the castle by getting across the MOAT? Sometimes you just have to drown your failure-to-solve-a-meta-sorrows by creating your own meta! After struggling with a supposed "week 2" Gaffney today (MGWCC #806 — “That’s an Order!”), I decided to try out an idea that was loosely based on a failed solving attempt. This meta was the result. Before completing the cluing for this puzzle I did end up solving the Gaffney, so that helped lighten the mood a little! The answer to the meta is an appropriate verb.

The easiest way to submit is on Crosshare (and you get instant feedback and unlimited attempts!) But you can also PM me with your submission. Either way, I'll compile a list of those who successfully solve the meta.

Fr-r-reezing! - Crosshare
Fr-r-reezing! - PUZ
Fr-r-reezing! - PDF


Nudges are here.
The solution is here.

havefun.gif
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Last edited by benchen71 on Sun Dec 22, 2024 6:42 am, edited 2 times in total.
Check out "The MOAT Mini Pack of Marching Bands" here. US$5 gets you 7 Marching Bands which, hard enough on their own, now contain metas too. And once again there's a mega-meta! :D
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whimsy
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#2

Post by whimsy »

Skated across!
zzfreeze.png
Very (n)ice! Thanks, Ben!
Berto
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#3

Post by Berto »

Cr-r-rossed the Moat, glad to be inside the castle round a roaring fire.
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schmidzy
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#4

Post by schmidzy »

Moat was frozen, alligators were sleeping; I tiptoed gently across and politely knocked at the castle door to be let in to the warmth. Thanks, Ben!
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lbray53
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#5

Post by lbray53 »

Crossed the MOAT.
My avatar proves that it is sometimes better to be lucky than good!
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boharr
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#6

Post by boharr »

Crossed. Thanks.
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LarsCaine
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#7

Post by LarsCaine »

Castle snowstormed!
applecastle.png
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Cap'n Rick
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#8

Post by Cap'n Rick »

MOAT crossed! Good one, @benchen71.
Ahoy! Check out my meta puzzles! Also check out "Smooth Sailing Sundays"!
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Cinny
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#9

Post by Cinny »

Moat crossed without any tripping this morning! Thanks, Ben.
Cindy Heisler
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ky-mike
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#10

Post by ky-mike »

Moat crossed. Thanks Ben.
hoover
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#11

Post by hoover »

Skated across the MOAT!
I don't have anything clever to say, but if I did, it would go here.
Eli
Dave C
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#12

Post by Dave C »

Crossed the moat.
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woozy
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#13

Post by woozy »

THANK YOU FOR 33-Down!!! (I had to drop everything to say that... I'll edit this when I finish the grid and either solve or get stuck... but I HAD to express my extreme appreciation for a Tintin quote)

EDIT: Have it figured out with the grid half done.

EDIT: And stormed. And blasted. And leveled. Take that you stupid castle. (Gee, woozy, releasing a little frustration over last week's WSJ, MGWCC, and Pun of a kind, are you?)
Last edited by woozy on Tue Dec 17, 2024 11:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
GUAVA is not an anagram of VAGUE
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rjy
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#14

Post by rjy »

Freezing the moat is a GREAT way to cross! Thanks Ben, Cheers!
Ray
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ajk
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#15

Post by ajk »

End of a very busy semester (well, ok, still need to finalize grades today) means time for mid-week metas again, yay. This was the first idea I had, but the second way to apply it. Fun stuff, 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
MatthewL
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#16

Post by MatthewL »

Moat crossed, castle stormed, getting warm by the fire. Thanks for the puzzle, Ben!
Matthew
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Darth
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#17

Post by Darth »

DeMOATed! .....That was fr-r-r-eezingly fun!...Thank you, Ben!
ice castle.jpg
Here's a bonus midi meta for anyone looking... Please try it! :D
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HeadinHome
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#18

Post by HeadinHome »

Hardly even a moat … more like a dry ditch. Thanks for taking it easy on us Fr-r-reezing northern hemispherians. Yeah, I’m sure that’s the term.
The other Wendy. :roll:
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HeadinHome
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#19

Post by HeadinHome »

Also, Ben you had me really worried for a bit… I saw the write up and the reference to the early November Matt puzzle you couldn’t solve, and thought.. “I really don’t remember doing a puzzle by that name recently.” Clicked on the muggle page, saw my submittal comment, and thought “okay this is scary… just weeks ago and I have no memory of writing that.” Finally saw this was November of LAST year. Whew. (Brain wipes all meta data outside of 6 months old, apparently. And I am fine with that.)
The other Wendy. :roll:
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CPJohnson
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#20

Post by CPJohnson »

Crossed the moat! Thanks, Ben!
Cynthia
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