Pun of a Kind

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Tough road stretch overall, only taking one from the Phillies and watching the offense taper off some as of late. We'll see what we can do this week! Also, Aaron Judge is batting .392. It's mid-June. How. Delaying the reveal for 137, since I need to post this one a bit earlier again, so here's the reveal for 136 anyway, haha. I will catch up! (Maybe.) --- 1.  Puzzle #136 answer: HOT HOT HOT Correct entries: 61 Shortest explanation: Four rows all contain a triplet of words that can be preceded by "HOT," signaling HOT HOT HOT , specifically Buster Poindexter (really David Johansen)'s 1987 cover (that he later lamented since he became inextricably linked to it). --- 2.  My roulette wheel of ratings overestimated last week's, and I'll put down Level 3  for this one. Maybe 2.75? Maybe 3.25? You be the judge! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is what flying colors are not.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Cubs-Tigers had such a playoff atmosphere last night. We were on the losing end but will still try to win 2-out-of-3! Also, Pete Crow-Armstrong is amazing. That is all. Delaying the reveal for 136, since I need to post this one a bit earlier again, so here's the reveal for 135 anyway, haha. I will catch up! --- 1.  Puzzle #135 answer:  FINAL EXAM Correct entries:  56 Shortest explanation: Take the last letters of each of the four themed entries to get EAT, ORSE, URE, and IVE. Looks slightly promising: now add "END" before each of these! You'll get four words, each of which having an alternate somewhere in the grid. These alternates are, in top-down order, ABIDE, COAX, ARUGULA, and CONFIRM. Note their  last letters spell EXAM, pointing us to FINAL EXAM , the answer to the meta. Whew! --- 2. I have to play this one safe, so this one will get a Level 4  rating. As always, your mileage may vary. Check out Crosshare/Muggles for nudg...

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Cubs' offense is in a slight slump lately, so let's try to break out of it before June! Delaying the reveal slightly, since I need to post this one a bit earlier today. --- 1.  Puzzle #135 answer:  TBR (to be revealed) Correct entries: TBR TBR Shortest explanation: TBR --- 2. Last week's was a toughie, so I have what I think will be a Level 1.5  at most today. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 3-word 1980s song title represented repeatedly in the grid.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! In recent Cubs news, Pete-Crow Armstrong is a superstar. I also welcome the resurgence of Javier Báez for the Tigers! This begins our 4th annual Summer of Solves , so here's the same graphic I haul out each year: Looks beautiful. Now let me explain the annual Summer of Solves. Basically, we have a puzzle each weekend from now until Labor Day! This concludes my detailed conclusion of the annual Summer of Solves. --- 1.  Puzzle #134 answer:  BONO Correct entries:  68 Shortest explanation: Pretty straightforward! The series of phrases with two Us were meant to evoke U2 (note the bonuses), and the lead vocalist is BONO , whose birthday was on this puzzle's release day! --- 2.  This one just happens to be a Level 4  to start things off; I actually might be overestimating here by a hair for a change, but I'd say 3.5 or so is a good floor. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 2-word phr...

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! The Cubs are in our "May malaise" part of the year, so I'm hoping they can rebound during the second half of the month. May and June have been difficult the past couple of years - let's turn it around! --- 1.  Puzzle #133 answer: WORD GAMES Correct entries:  65 Shortest explanation: In lieu of the grid, the nine starred entries were isograms - but they are still  isograms (and the clues still make sense!) when we place a new word in front. Their initial letters spell WORD GAMES , another isogram that is the answer to our meta! Perhaps a slight issue in the sense that I have never heard of a hip flask, but that's on me, haha. I also tried to have some sense of parallelism in having all the entries be nine letters long. --- 2. We will have our fourth Summer of Solves soon, but let's have a quick Level 1  before then! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a well-known lead vocalist.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Since my last post, the Cubs had two absolutely electric games at Wrigley - and we're still in the middle of April. What an amazing start. Let's hope it continues! --- 1.  Puzzle #132 answer:  CHEESY HUMOR Correct entries:  64 Shortest explanation: Pretty simple! Five cheesy puns/dad jokes, in more way that one, populate the grid. Their initial letters spell HUMOR, leading us to CHEESY HUMOR , the answer to the meta. --- 2. This one is moved up a day to avoid MGWCC conflict. Hope we all can crack the Level 4 tomorrow! This one is aimed to be a solid Level 2.5  or so. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The 9-letter answer to the meta is something most of us probably enjoy.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Cubs are having a great start to the season, but man alive, how are we ever going to get past those Dodgers? Stay tuned. --- 1.  Puzzle #131 answer: NO SPRING CHICKEN Correct entries:  42  - definitely harder than I planned, for sure. --- 2. We have every other week until the Summer of Solves , and you deserve a legitimate Level 1  (seriously). Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta, two words in the form (6, 5), is one of my favorite things.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Cubs had a brutal second half of spring training, though it was an incredible honor to visit Japan. Opening Day was yesterday, and we (and the White Sox!) had a great burst of offense to win! Let's keep that up! --- 1.  Reveals for the last two puzzles are below! 129 - That's Quite a Stretch (reveal) 130 - Stuck in the Middle (reveal) --- 2.  We have an early puzzle due to the MGWCC conflict (and I want to devote all my time to that guest Level 5!). My estimate is Level 2.5  for this, so we'll see what happens! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 15-letter phrase whose first word is 2 letters long.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Cubs go to Japan this week, and, yes, I'll be up at 5 am to watch! --- 1.  Reveal for #129 will come after the deadline passes - sorry about a bit of chaos on that one! --- 2. I misjudged the level of the last meta, and some unintended ambiguity contributed to that. That's on me! This one feels a bit more solid, but it will track at about a Level 3.5  or so. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 4-letter word.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Cubs have been rocking spring training, which has been wonderful to see! Spring break is coming soon, with warmer weather on the horizon! We have three metas slated for March, starting with this one - and there is  another one next week on 3/15 ! --- 1.  Reveals for # 127 and # 128 are at those links, respectively! --- 2.  How low can you go? This sets a record for the smallest grid (7-by-7) for a meta of mine. Will I get it down to a 1-by-1 one day? Stay tuned! I'd say Level 2  is fair for this, at the most. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a song with a 7-word title.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Now it's just 5 days until spring training! Finally! Spring training has begun, so that means - in my eyes - it's the de facto end of winter! This is the last Winter Solvestice  puzzle today, posted early to adjust for the MGWCC delay. I usually do every other week in March, but I will be planning for three March days on 3/8 , 3/15 , and 3/29  (mark your calendars, haha). --- 1. Puzzle #127 answer, delayed for right now! --- 2. We're finishing with a Level 4 , but you might see what's going on. I'll be adding some nudges to Crosshare to take it down to a Level 3  or so in a few days. Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! See you in March! Mikey G The answer to the meta is an 8-letter word.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Now it's just 5 days until spring training! Finally! Just two more puzzles on the Winter Solvestice! We then go back to every other week until the summer. Thank you so much for your support thus far! Make sure to subscribe (it makes Ginger Cat happy). --- 1b.  Puzzle #126 answer:  SQUEEZE PLAY Correct entries: 73  - a true Level 1 , indeed! Shortest explanation: The unchecked letters spell SQUEEZE PLAY  ("I can explain that meta in six words!"). --- 2. It wasn't planned this way, but the solstice is finishing with a bit of a respite! At most, this should be a Level 2.5 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is what I'm doing on my birthday.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Now it's just 12 days until spring training! We have three more posts to finish off this Winter Solvestice! If you've liked these meta crosswords so far, I'd really appreciate spread the word and telling your puzzle-loving friends to sign up! Note the new sidebar and subscription tool. --- 1a.  Puzzle #124 answer: NELLIE BLY Correct entries:  64 Shortest explanation: Nine symmetrical entries have a country with extra letter inserted. These inserted letters spell out our globe-trotting meta answer, NELLIE BLY . --- 1b. Puzzle #125 answer: GROUNDHOG Correct entries: 59 Shortest explanation: Four hidden animals have initial letters that spell out PHIL. Coupled with the symmetric soundalikes to Punxsutawney, our proximity to February 2, and the fact we're looking for a 9-letter creature, it has to be our beloved GROUNDHOG.  Six more weeks of puzzles, please! --- 2. I overestimated the last puzzle - surprise, surprise. Let's hope this pl...

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Now it's just 20 days until spring training! Early post this week, since MGWCC comes out on Saturday. Note #124 is still live for a day, so the reveal will be delayed on that. Let's get to it! --- 1.  Puzzle #124 answer:  ??? Correct entries: ??? Shortest explanation: ??? --- 2.  I plan to start February (last month of the Solvestice!) with a Level 1 , and I can't imagine it going too much above that, but I'll say Level 1.5 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 9-letter creature.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! It's just 26 days until spring training, and I'm counting down already! Oh, yeah, we have the Super Bowl first, of course. --- 1.  Puzzle #123 answer: I DID IT Correct entries:  54  - solid Level 3  or so! Shortest explanation: Six 6-letter words have their letters in a 1-2-3 pattern. Take the letters that appear that many number of times, respectively, to form a new 3-letter word. Then, search the grid for an alternate 3-letter entry based on the clue. Those alternates spell I DID IT , another 1-2-3 formation, and a great victorious cheer upon solving the meta! --- 2. We'll finish the month with a Level 4 ; however, note there are immediate nudges on Crosshare if you want a little push to get you started! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a noted historical figure.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! My Broncos had a swift exit from the playoffs, but I actually like the Bills, so I'm okay with that. Hoping for an eventual Bills-Lions Super Bowl to tide me over until spring training - it's just one month away! --- 1.  Puzzle #121 answer:  THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE Correct entries: 39  - we're vacillating between easy and hard this month! Shortest explanation: A bit SAD, but you do have to get on my wavelength. Take the initial letter of any entry that has an odd length (either across or down). In standard top-down grid order, the letters spell THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE , with NOT EVEN alluding to ODD (which I am - stay weird, folks!). --- 2.  In reverse fashion, I thought this one might be challenging, but all of my test solvers grokked it and felt it would be a solid Level 3 . Perfect! Thanks to Claudia, Jay, Kay, and Lydia! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is what you might say after finis...

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! No baseball yet, but my Broncos are in the playoffs, so I'll take it! Wishing all of you continued peace and compassion as we start off the new year. Now onward to the puzzles! --- 1.  Puzzle #121 answer:  WHY NOT Correct entries:  75  - a beautiful Level 1! Shortest explanation: Five silly themers are missing a "Y," and the nod to the homophone in the final down gives us our NOT, a fitting answer to a puzzle without any Ys: WHY NOT --- 2.  It's a small one today, but I'm not sure how this will go. We'll say that I intend  this as a Level 2  (to try to keep the increase this month), but I'm thinking more 2.5 . Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is what you don't want to hear when solving a puzzle.  

PDF  /  PUZ Hello hello! Happy 2025! SPRING TRAINING STARTS NEXT MONTH. Ahem. Sorry about that. I'M JUST SO EXCITED. --- 1.  Puzzle #119 answer:  FACTORIAL Correct entries: 44 Shortest explanation: More like a Level 3.5 , I'd say - we have nine clues that are appropriately punctuated with exclamation marks. Their fifth letters, per the title's directive, give us FACTORIAL , a fitting answer to the meta since 5! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1 = 120, indeed! --- 2. Starting off the year with a Level 1 , I hope! Good luck, and may all your solves be beautiful! Mikey G The answer to the meta is a 2-word phrase in the form 3, 3.