HIGH OVERHEAD
NY Times Crossword
July 14, 2002
Patrick Berry

Each of the letter strings below can be changed into a familiar two-word name or phrase by inserting the same four letters in the same, consecutive order. The four letters form a word in their own right.

1. REEA
2. RESIREST
3. COICA
4. MUDGAS
5. CUDPIE

Answer:

The four letters are STAR:

1. reST ARea
2. resiST ARrest
3. coSTA Rica
4. muSTARd gas
5. cuSTARd pie