The answers to the clues below are common phrases - but with a twist. Each phrase follows a certain alphabetic pattern. Can you answer the clues and determine the pattern?

1. Versatile mediocre worker
2. Like low-riding jeans
3. Geeky pedestrian
4. Creating cutting wordplay
5. "SNL" slangy opening
6. Political campaign number crunching
7. Cast out the contemporary

HINT: (revealing pattern)
The pattern is that the first letter of each phrase is two steps back in the alphabet from its much more common cousin.

Answers:

1. Hack of all trades (Jack)
2. Fitting below the belt (Hitting)
3. Dork in the road (Fork)
4. Punning with scissors (Running)
5. "Jive from New York" (Live)
6. Math of office (Oath)
7. Banish Modern (Danish)

Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
TWO STEPS BACK