WSJ (Contest) Grid: 20 minutes; Meta: an hour 
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Matt Gaffney’s Wall Street Journal contest crossword, “Go Fourth and Prosper” — Conrad’s writeup
This week we’re looking for a four-letter word. There were four long three-word theme entries:
- HEAR(D) SPA(C)E (F)LUB: Caught the audio of a NASA miscue?
- JO(I)N (B)INGO (H)AUL: Get in on the winnings after “I-24” and “G-55” are called?
- BAS(H) A(U)TO TENO(N): Harshly criticize part of a wooden car?
- (T)EST (Y)OUTH (W)ORTH: Find out how industrious the teens are these days?
Fourth indicated that we were looking for a fourth of something. Each themer contained three words, so I looked for a fourth match. It took me a while, but then I spotted BINGO/HAUL, and thought “Ringo and Paul.” I had the rabbit: change on letter of each theme entry word, and find a fourth that matched. Four grid entries had a clue with a matching word:
WSJ Contest – 07.20.2025
- QATAR: The Doha Diamond League’s country: HEAR(T) SPA(D)E (C)LUB
- UEFA: Org. for Cristiano Ronaldo and George Bello -> JO(H)N (R)INGO (P)AUL
- AMMO: Rounds for Tony Soprano: BAS(S) A(L)TO TENO(R)
- DELI: Katz’s on the Lower East Side, e.g.: (W)EST (S)OUTH (N)ORTH
The mapped entries spell our contest solution QUAD. Solvers, please share your thoughts. Great meta. QUAD followed the theme entry order, which was a nice touch.
Wow this is so good! Didn’t get it, but very impressed with Matt and the solvers.
Ditto
I’m not 100% sure but I think UNO DOS TRES at 30D may have been an additional hint to think about the missing fourth thing in a group, which is remarkable given that it crosses through three theme answers.
Serendipity! It’s just what fit, but I did notice the meaning once I put it in the grid.
Puzzle: WSJ (Contest); Rating: 3.5 stars
Too many of the fills are gibberish, but the meta is good.
Hi Matt, The well-known Spanish count was one of the best crossword clues ever!! Well done!
Puzzle: WSJ (Contest); Rating: 5 stars
Loved this one-
Not sure if 62D was a clue, but “Number of Cards” sure got me thinking on the first long entry of
HEARD SPACE FLUB
Great puzzle!
Puzzle: WSJ (Contest); Rating: 3 stars
Couldn’t find a 4th in the themers
FOURTH->FORTH led me to think we were transforming gibberish to a known phrase
TEST YOUTH WORTH -> TEST YOUR WORTH seemed hopeful
as did BINGO HAUL -> BINGO HALL
Dead end….need to learn to scan the clues for buried hints… speaking the themers out loud might be a good technique to try
Puzzle: WSJ (Contest); Rating: 2 stars
I don’t get it. What do you do with the changed letters e.g. DPF to TDC?
Puzzle: WSJ (Contest); Rating: 3 stars
The letters aren’t really relevant. Common groupings like Heart Spade Club have been changed to nonsense. Once you see what they should be, find the missing fourth item, (Diamond leads to Qatar). I didn’t get it either.
Nothing. Metas aren’t formulaic and would get boring fast if they were; just because a letter is changed doesn’t 100% mean you’ll be using the new letter. In this case, you’re using the new *word* instead of the letter.
Go into a meta without a fixed idea of what’s going to happen. You’ll do much better that way.
Puzzle: WSJ (Contest); Rating: 4 stars
💯
Took me about 15 minutes to figure this one out. I really enjoyed it. Like Conrad, it was seeing RINGO and PAUL that led me on my way. The Fab Four. Nice one, Matt!
Time to listen to QUADrophenia.
Thx Simon
Bravo once again Mr Gaffney. Another virtuoso performance
I do my level best
Puzzle: WSJ (Contest); Rating: 5 stars
Waves, Surf, Riptide, Beach. I enjoyed the challenge of this one.
Puzzle: WSJ (Contest); Rating: 4.5 stars
I must admit, I was stumped for quite awhile. Until I asked Google what it thought about “HEARD SPACE FLUB”. And Google asked, “Did you mean HEART SPADE CLUB?” (smacks forehead) The solution fell quickly afterwards. Feeling a little guilty about this one, though.
I almost never get the meta, so usually come here to find the answer and explanation. I just wanted to note a nit: I think your grid display has a slight error — 18A should be “I am HE” so that it’s “AGHA” going down for 8D.