NY Times Crossword
June 16, 2016
Timothy Polin
(Title shown below)

In this baffling and very clever puzzle, the clue words are totally transformed by the puzzle's "trick."  This allows for normal-sounding clues to produce seemingly impossible answers. Below are the clues and their correct answers. Can you determine the key to deciphering the clues?

1. Bite down, in a way - MOPE AROUND
2. Polite star - SANTA CLAUS
3. Sitting figures, maybe - G-MEN
4. Britain's location - CRANIUM
5. Companion of celerity - PEANUT BUTTER
6. Suite for use - ANAGRAM
7. Avian digits - NESTS
8. Exit payments - ALIMONY
9. What visitors minimize - GLARE
10. Source of gravity - SINECURE
11. Give a permit to, say - STYLE
12. Cubit - TYRO

HINT: "Enough, already."

Answer:

Answer to hint: "Drop it."

In each clue, the letters (word) IT can be dropped to change the clue into one with an entirely different meaning:

1. Bite down - Be down
2. Polite star - Pole star
3. Sitting - Sting
4. Britain's - Brain's
5. Celerity - Celery
6. Suite - Sue
7. Digits - Digs
8. Exit - Ex
9. Visitors - Visors
10. Gravity - Gravy
11. Permit - Perm
12. Cubit - Cub

Puzzle title (revealer): DROP IT