VANISHING ACTS
NY Times Crossword
January 21, 1996
Robert H. Wolfe

If the phrase AT A PREMIUM were written simply as AT A, a common expression to indicate the missing word (PREMIUM) would be WAIVER OF PREMIUM - because WAIVER explains why PREMIUM is missing.  Each of the phrases below is missing a key word. Think of the word and then a common expression to explain why it is missing. The missing words are given as hints.

1. AFORE-THOUGHT
2. OUT TIME (5:00 pm, for example)
3. IT'S THAT COUNTS
4. BRAND (as opposed to store brand)
5. FOUR OF THE EARTH (everywhere)

HINTS:
The missing words are:
1. Malice
2. Check
3. Thought
4. Name
5. Corners

Answers:

1. ABSENCE OF MALICE
2. CANCELLED CHECK
3. PERISH THE THOUGHT
4. NAME DROPPING
5. CUTTING CORNERS