NY Times Crossword
February 22, 2017
Kyle T. Dolan

The four word ladders below are missing their first and last entries. The missing words will form a common expression in the form of _______ to _______. What are they?

1)
..........
SLID
SAID
SAND
SANE
SINE
NINE
..........

2)
...........
DOTE
DOLE
DOLL
DELL
SELL
...........

3)
............
HERD
HEAD
HEAT
SEAT
STAT
............

4)
.............
OMEN
OPEN
OPED
SPED
SHED
SHAD
SHAM
WHAM
WHAT
.............

Answers:

1. SLIM TO NONE
2. NOTE TO SELF
3. HERE TO STAY
4. AMEN TO THAT