LITERALLY SPEAKING
Credit: NY Times Crossword
August 2, 2015
Matt Ginsberg

The words and phrases below share an unusual property. Can you determine what it is?

1. CALL BACK
2. SPLIT SECOND
3. MINCEMEAT
4. DRIFT APART
5. MIXED MEDIA
6. UNBROKEN
7. HASHMARKS
8. FAST SHUFFLE
9. INTERMINGLED

Answer:

Each word or phrase is self-descriptive of a word hidden inside itself.

1. caLL bACk  (CALL written backward)
2. Split sECOND  (SECOND split)
3. MincEmeAT  [MEAT is mince(d)]
4. DRIFt aparT  (DRIFT is apart)
5. mIxED MediA  (MEDIA is mixed)
6. UnbrokeN  (UN is broken)
7. hAShMaRKs  [MARKS are hash(ed)]
8. fAsT ShuFfle  [FAST is shuffle(d)]
9. inTeRmINglEd  (INTER is mingled)

NOTE by JA: Another level could be added to this very clever puzzle by first cluing the above words and phrases - as was done in the original puzzle. The clues given were as follows:

1. Result of a successful audition
2. Instant
3. Kind of pie
4. Lose that loving feeling
5. Art type
6. Whole
7. ###
8. Card shark's deception
9. Like 0's and 1's in binary numbers