NY Times Crossword
November 1, 2011
Kristian House

What do the phrases below have to do with the word NITPICK? It has to do with the letters, rather than the meanings of the phrases.

HOME REPAIR
HARLEM BOYS' CHOIR
HAIL CAESAR

Answer:

Each phrase "splits" the word HAIR:

Home repAIR
HArlem boys' choIR
HAIl caesaR - - - - - -  to NITPICK is to SPLIT HAIRS