Grid: 7ish; Meta: a minute after that
Mike Shenk’s Wall Street Journal contest crossword, “Poetic Justice” — Laura’s review
This week, we’re looking for a job in the legal profession. I would imagine many people are.
WSJ Contest – 2.5.21 – Solution
The grid has a whole bunch of rhyming themers:
- [17a: Inky blotch on a folder?]: FILE SMUDGE
- [36a: Usher who finds work overly toilsome?]: AISLE DRUDGE
- [59a: Muddy deposits that snag Cleopatra’s barge?]: NILE SLUDGE
- [10d: Soft confection that tastes absolutely awful?]: VILE FUDGE
- [33d: Gentle adjustment while tuning in a radio station?]: DIAL NUDGE
Those five entries point us toward a sixth rhyme, which must be TRIAL JUDGE, a a job in the legal profession, and our answer.
[55d: Singer Redbone]: LEON can sing us out.
STILE PUDGE: Person stuck at the subway?
TILE KLUDGE: Hastily made bathroom floor?
MILE TRUDGE: Last part of a marathon, perhaps?
KYLE GRUDGE: What Cartman often has?
I’LL BUDGE: “You’ve convinced me to move”?
Finally, Mike Shenk, an easy one.
Totally agree!
Too easy for a Mike Shenk meta? The following explanation was posted on the website xword-muggles.com —
#107 Post by TNakagawaWSJ » Thu Feb 04, 2021 6:31 pm
Hello, fellow Muggles! I’m an Audience Interaction Producer at the Journal and I wanted to let you know about a project we’re working on. The puzzles team is currently developing a how-to course that will slowly teach new puzzlers how to find the weekly contest’s meta answer. All four of the contest puzzles from February will be included in that course, and that may be why this week’s contest may seem a bit easier than usual for seasoned puzzle-contest fans. But don’t worry, each week our editors will increase the contest’s difficulty to ease new solvers into the world of contest puzzles. Good luck to you all and keep an eye out for the crossword contest course coming soon.
Gee…I finally got one right and now I find that EVERYBODY got it right. :-)
I concur!