MARRIED COUPLES
NY Times Crossword
December 25, 2016
Kevin G. Der (adapted)

In this very difficult puzzle, you must find synonyms for the two parts in each clue, such that the last two letters of the first synonym are the same as the first two letters of the second synonym. The answer is the two words mushed together with the two identical letters overlapping (married).

For example, given the clue A PLUS AVERAGE, the letter A is the symbol for AMPERE (ending in RE) and a synonym for AVERAGE is REGULAR (beginning with RE). The answer would be SYMBOLFORAMPEREGULAR.

1. PLAY BY HEART
2. HANDLE WITH CARE
3. CALM BEFORE THE STORM
4. GRAM AND GO
5. STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE

Answers:

1)
PLAY = DRAMATIC PIECE
HEART = CENTER
Answer: DRAMATICPIECENTER

2)
HANDLE = ALIAS (as a CB handle)
CARE = ASSISTANCE
Answer: ALIASSISTANCE

3)
CALM  = SERENITY
STORM = TYPHOON
Answer: SERENITYPHOON

4)
GRAB = CLUTCH
GO - CHINESE BOARD GAME
Answer: CLUTCHINESEBOARDGAME

5)
STAY = ABIDE
CURVE = DECEPTIVE PITCH
Answer: ABIDECEPTIVEPITCH