The clues below can be answered with words according to a certain pattern. Can you determine what it is?

1. PAY OUT - 1
2. PRACTICED A TRADE -1
3. PUFF - 1
4. PATS ON THE BACK - 1
5. POLLEN PIECE - 1

HINTS:
#1: A synonym for pay out is SPEND.
#2: - 1 stands for a subtracted letter.
#3: The subtracted letters are all the same.

Answers:

1. SEND (SPEND - P)
2. LIED (PLIED - P)
3. ANT (PANT - P)
4. RAISES (PRAISES - P)
5. SORE (SPORE - P) 

Credit: Matt Ginsberg
EASY, PEASY