NY Times Crossword
August 18, 2008
Paula Gamache

What do the following phrases have in common?

CENTER LINE
LAST LETTER
BODY HEAT

HINT:
The same thing can be done to both words in each phrase.

Answer:

Both words in each phrase can be preceded by DEAD to make a familiar word or phrase:

Dead center
Deadline
Dead last
Dead letter
Dead body
Dead heat