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Puzzle - WSJ 20231021

https://www.wsj.com/articles/carnival-booth-saturday-variety-puzzle-october-21-69c079a2

Please click Download PDF

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Solution for previous - WSJ 20230923

https://s.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/PuzAnswer09302023.pdf


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The solution is usually available a week later at the same puzzle link.

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Thanks, syzygy.
The clues were definitely on the easy side.
Mysterious special instructions wound up with a funny result!

Did the clues, found the 2 letters.
Completely stumped!

Thanks syzygy - it's a weird one!
I get plenty of links to the real thing when searching (+ the relevant clue answer) which suggests it might be more than just a homophone. Of course I could be completely wrong.

Well I'm fed up!!

You could try reading out the two letters together with a short down answer (one that would be a suitable prize, rosalind).

rosalind, reverse the order of the 2 leftover letters (so they're in reverse alphabetical order). Together ith one of the clues, you wind up with an item familiar in US slang.

Couldn't find it under the initials in the wiki entry or Merriam-Webster, is it common text-speak in the US, geeker?

drxx, there's a fairly common US slang phrase (I'm an aging boomer, and it *used* to be common, at least):

"Give that man a ****** ****",
where the 6-letter word is a phoneticized rendition of the two letters.

SPOILER ALERT https://tinyurl.com/2p8h48aj

Thanks, geeker - I had a hunch it must be out there somewhere.