NY Times Crossword
May 4, 2011
Jeff Chen (adapted)

What common, frequently-seen phrase should follow each clue below?

KAY
LEV
REF
CIV
TEN
DEIF
ROTA

HINT:
The phrase is seen on a traffic sign.

Answer:

U TURN

Each of the clues is the beginning of a palindrome. If you turn around (make a U TURN) at the last letter, the repeated letters going backward complete the spelling of the palindrome:

KAYAK
LEVEL
REFER
CIVIC
TENET
DEIFIED 
ROTATOR