From The Enigma
NPL Magazine
May, 2017
LEXMAN (adapted)

Can you figure out the last two words of this flat based on the two capitalized clues?

Your painting's NEAR the mark,
But not quite FIT
For designation as
_ _ _ _    _ _ _ .

HINT:
The answer is an anagram of the two clues.

Answer:

FINE ART - FI(NE AR)T

The answers to the clues below share a very unusual quality that has nothing to do with their meanings. Can you determine what it is?

1. Puccini opera set in China
2. Character in play we wait for, but who never arrives
3. Yellow-green gem
4. #1 Reindeer in  'Twas the Night Before Christmas
5. Colorful African garment
6. Auto instrument panel
7. Give lavish, excessive attention to
8. Kind of computer printer
9. Where to sign

Answers:

1. Turandot
2. Godot
3. Peridot
4. Dasher
5. Dashiki
6. Dashboard
7. Dot matrix
8. Dote on
9. Dotted line 

The unusual quality shared by the answers is that they contain 

dot-dot-dot/dash-dash-dash/dot-dot-dot

which stands for SOS in Morris Code - or HELP! 

Credit:
Daniel C. Bryant
HELP!

 

Each of the clues below can be answered with a familiar phrase - plus two letters at the end of one of the words in the phrase. The two added letters are the same for each answer, and modify the phrase to answer the clue.

1. Failure to get upgraded to first class
2. Roster of most-stressed people
3. Links language
4. Expert handler of barnyard fowl
5. Twins who claim to be Norwegian, but aren't
6. Hot and desperate shopping look-around
7. Betting without thinking
8. Polite request to a seller to negotiate on price
  
Answers:

The two added letters are SE.

1. LAPSE OF LUXURY
2. TOP TENSE LIST
3. GOLF PROSE
4. GEESE WHIZ
5. NEITHER NORSE
6. FEVERED BROWSE
7. GAMBLING DENSE
8. PLEASE BARGAIN

Credit: Arlan and Linda Bushman
SOUTHEASTER DIRECTION (adapted) 

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. General's helper
2. Royal emblem of France
3. Final stroke
4. Stroke of genius
5. Gusto
6. Mark Twain, e.g.
7. National holiday of Mexico
8. Street with no outlet

Answers:

1. Aide de camp
2. Fleur de lis
3. Coup de grace
4. Tour de force
5. Joie de vivre
6. Nom de plume
7. Cinco de Mayo 
8. Cul de sac

Credit:
Katherine Omak
FIDDLE-DE-DEE

"DOWN THE HATCH!"
Fred Piscop (adapted)

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Fall for a scam
2. Lose face
3. Die - oater style
4. Read with enthusiasm
5. Overdo it on a stage

Answers:

1. Swallow the bait
2. Eat humble pie
3. Bite the dust
4. Devour a book
5. Chew the scenery 

From The Enigma
NPL Magazine
May, 2017
SCARAB

The two missing words in this flat, indicated by FIVE and FOUR, are anagrams, with the exception. that one letter has to be dropped from the fist word.

"FIVE, Diego! Have some poi.
Oh, there isn't a finer dish!"
"FOUR, Leilani! Thanks, but
Arroz con pollo is more delish!"

Answers:

ALOHA
HOLA

NY Times Crossword
October 2, 1996
Karen Young Bonin (#1-6)

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Person next door in Honolulu
2. Desk tray in Indianapolis
3. Circus employee in Boston
4. Jewelry in Boise
5. Horse enclosure in Tulsa
6. Tea holder in Pittsburgh
7. Living together in Denver

HINT:
It has to do with US state postal abbreviations.

Answers:

1. HI neighbor
2. IN-tray
3. MA Barker
4. ID bracelet
5. OK Corral
6. PA Kettle
7. CO habitation

What familiar three-word expression can describe the clues below?

Boss
Scoundrel

Boss
Dirty rat

Boss
Nogoodnik

HINT:
They're rebuses

Answer:

HEAD OVER HEELS 

Credit:
NY Times Crossword
October 19, 2017
Ned White

FOUR RIDDLES

1. Three pro football linemen got jobs in the off-season. What jobs were they?
2. What did the sculptor-turned-policeman like to say?
3. What did the manicurist-turned-policeman like to say?
4. What does a US cross-country trip have in common with an octave on the piano?

Answers:

1. One was a crossing guard. one sold fishing tackle, and one worked at a day care center.
2. "This is a bust." 
3. "Let me see you hands." 
4.  They both stretch from sea to sea (C to C)

Credits:
#1:Daniel C. Bryant
GRIDIRON GRINS
#2-3: Randall J. Hartman 
NY Times Crossword 10/1/1996
#4: Harvey Estes



 

 LA Times Crossword
October 18, 2017
Robin Stears

Each of the clues below can be answered with a two-word phrase in which each of the two words can be followed by the same word. Can you answer the clues and determine what word they have in common?

1. Eastern seaboard - simply - on a map
2. Unlikely to run - as clothes
3. Secret, overseas cash stash site
4. Day-to-day routine for the Royal Family

Answers:

1. RIGHT COAST
2. COLOR SAFE
3. SWISS BANK
4. PALACE LIFE

What the answers have in common:

Each word in each answer can be followed by GUARD to make a common phrase:

1. Right guard - Coast Guard
2. Color guard - Safeguard
3. Swiss Guard - Bank guard
4. Palace Guard - Lifeguard
 

CAUSE OF THE CAWS III

The answers to the clues below are based on homophones or near-homophones.

Example: Reason for the crows' noise
Answer: Cause of the caws

1. Acting dizzy was a trick
2. Reasonable price for bus ride
3. Boat that conveys sprites and elves
4. Terrible-two period doesn't bother me
5. Animal skin on an evergreen tree
6. Certain insect will run away
7. Ice sheet will drift with the current
8. Sheep herds ate colorful flowers
9. Nasty bird
10. Decorative band on wall damaged by extreme cold

Answers:

1. Feeling faint was a feint
2. Fair fare
3. Fairy ferry
4. Phase doesn't faze me
5. Fur on a fir
6. Flea will flee 
7. Floe will flow
8. Flocks ate phlox 
9. Foul fowl 
10. Frieze damaged by freeze 

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Seems familiar, reminds you of something
2. Stop, as a coasting car
3. New law school graduate's goal
4. Very quickly - colloquially
5. Cause of a game going into overtime
6-7. Often misplaced item and John Hancock's distinction
8. Distinctly different
9. _______ twice, cut once
10. Don't put on airs

Answers:

1. Strikes a chord
2. Come to rest
3. Pass the Bar
4. In nothing flat
5. Ends in a tie
6-7. Key signature
8. In sharp contrast
9. Measure twice
10. Act natural - - - Each answer contains a musical term.

Credit:
James Arthur
STAFF MEMBERS

DIG DEEPER VI (Q-Z)
Credit: Joseph Appel

How many familiar two-word phrases can you think of in which both words begin with the same letter, as in DIG DEEPER? There are a lot of them, so this is a work in progress.

(Possible) Answers:

Q:
Quick question

R:
Run ragged 
Rat race
Round robin
Rocky road 
River rat

S:
Save seats
Space station
Stainless steel
Secret Service
Short shrift
Sea serpent
Self serve
Seven seas
Soft soap

T:
Talk turkey
Tractor trailer
Top ten

U:
Under-used

V:
Village Voice 
Vestal Virgins

W:
Work wonders 
Walking wounded 
Wishing well 
Written word 
West wind

X:
Xerox xenon

Y:
Yin Yang
Yo-yo

Z:
Zuider Zee 
Zig-zag

The names and phrases below share an unusual quality. Can you determine what it is?

1. LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP
2. ELI LILI AND COMPANY
3. HEADLINE NEWS
4. ROYAL ALBERT HALL
5. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
6. SCENES FROM A MALL
7. BEAR A RESEMBLANCE TO
8. CLAUDE DEBUSSEY
9. AM I MISSING SOMETHING?

Answer:

Each name or phrase contains a US state postal abbreviation - repeated twice in consecutive order:

1. lifetiME MEmbership
2. elI LILi and company
3. headliNE NEws
4. royAL ALbert hall
5. singIN' IN the rain
6. scenes froM A MAll
7. beAR A Resemblance to
8. clauDE DEbussey
9. aMI MIssing something?

 

THREE PAIRS II

NY Times Crossword
October 28, 1999
Patrick D. Berry (#1-4)

LA Times Crossword
January 30, 2018
David Liben-Nowell (#5 - 6)

The answers to the clues below contain three consecutive pairs of double letters.

1. Sugar addicts have one
2. Acted the Boy Scout
3. Never
4. Financial record maintainer
5. Ones who once shared quarters
6. Literal feature of clue answers - borrowed from basketball

Answers:

1. SWEET TOOTH
2. DID A GOOD DEED
3. ON NO OCCASION
4. BOOKKEEPER 
5. FORMER ROOMMATES
6. TRIPLE DOUBLE

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Non-conformist's activity
2. Silly, foolish behavior
3. Mosquito breeding ground
4. It's known as "Insurance City"
5. You need it to get on a plane
6. Heavy equipment for leveling
7. Tumble-down, as a shed

Answers:

1. Buck the system
2. Tomfoolery
3. Stagnant pond
4. Hartford, Connecticut
5. Boarding pass
6. Bulldozer
7. Ramshackle - - - Each clue contains the name of a male animal.

Credit:
NY Times Crossword
October 24, 1999
Nancy Salomon 
MALE BONDING 

NO HOLDS BARD
NY Times Crossword
October 3, 1999
Fred Piscop

The answer to each clue below is a pun based on a Shakespearean character. For example, given the clue Increased pay rate, Bard-style, the answer would be TIMONAHALF. The play in which the character appears is given as a hint - except for #6.

1. Empathetic remark, Bard-style (Hamlet)
2. Auto purveyor, Bard-style (The Merchant of Venice)
3. Hierarchy, Bard-style (A Midsummer Night's Dream)
4. Takes advantage of, Bard-style (Julius Caesar)
5. Easy schedule, Bard-style (Macbeth)
6. Miserly, Bard-style (No Hint)
7. Combat invoving planes and missiles, Bard style (The Tempest)

Answers:

1. OPHELIA PAIN
2. PORTIA DEALER
3. PUCKING ORDER
4. CASSIUS IN ON
5. BANQUO'S HOURS
6. TITUS A DRUM 
7. ARIEL WARFARE

NY Times Crossword
October 17, 2017
Jeff Chen

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Base for long-distance avian carriers
2. A mere pittance
3. Unexpected blow
4. Cleopatra's lover

Answers:

1. Pigeon coop
2. Chump change
3. Sucker punch
4. Mark Antony - - - First words are con men targets. 

MULTIPLE HOMOPHONES II

How many words can you think of that have at least three common homophones, or near homophones? For example: METAL, METTLE, MEDAL, MEDDLE

(Possible) Answers:

1. DO, DUE, DEW 
2. EARN, ERNE, URN 
3. EIGHT, ATE, AIT 
4. EWE, YEW, YOU 
5. FLEW, FLUE, FLU 
6. FREES, FREEZE, FRIEZE 
7. GNU, NEW, KNEW
8. HEAL, HEEL, HE'LL
9. AIR, ERR, ERE, HEIR
10. IDOL, IDLE, IDYLL

DOUBLE DUTY LXXXIX

Fill in the blanks with words which will complete the word or phrase beginning on the left and begin the word or phrase ending on the right. The number of blanks indicates the number of letters in the missing word.

1. HAT _ _ _ _ _ KNEE
2. STAR _ _ _ _ _ WALK
3. OPEN _ _ _ _ _ _ PAL
4. BASE _ _ _ _ _ ROOM
5. PLAN  _  MOVIE
6. SOLID _ _ _ _ STANDARD
7. TIMES _ _ _ _ _ _ MEAL
8. SHADOW _ _ _ SPRING
9. CHAMBER _ _ _ _ _ BOX
10. CHOCOLATE _ _ _ _ IN

HINTS:
The first of the missing letters:
1. T
2. B
3. S
4. B
5.
6. G
7. S
8. B
9. M
10. C

Answers:

1. hatTRICKknee
2. starBOARDwalk
3. openSECRETpal
4. baseBOARDroom
5. plan B movie
6. solidGOLDstandard
7. timesSQUAREmeal
8. shadowBOXspring
9. chamberMUSICbox 
10 chocolateCHIPin

The clues below lead to answers which share an unusual quality. Can you determine what it is?

1. Parent in a southern US state - informally
2. Banner of an island nation east of Africa
3. Passage linking two oceans
4. Until tomorrow in Spanish
5. Magic words

Answers:

1. ALABAMA MAMA
2. MADAGASCAR'S FLAG
3. PANAMA CANAL
4. HASTA MANANA
5. ABRA CADABRA

The unusual quality of these phrases is that they are spelled using only the vowel A, with six A's in ALABAMA MAMA and five A's in each of the other answers.

Credit:
Susan Amick
FIVE OF A KIND

The same letters, in the same consecutive order, will change the name and words below into  new words.

MEL
VAN
WAY
PACE

HINTS:
#1: There are four letters.
#2: The four letters precede each word.

Answer:

The letters CARA can precede the name and words to make new words:

CARAMEL
CARAVAN
CARAWAY
CARAPACE

Credit:
Patrick Jordan
INTRODUCING IRENE

1. What do the following words have in common?

END
RISE
LAUD
ROVE

2. What do the following words have in common?

HOST
MISS
TEXT

Answers:

1. Each of the words can be preceded by APP to make a new word:

APPEND
APPRISE
APPLAUD
APPROVE

2. Each of the words can be followed by ILE to make a new word:

HOSTILE
MISSILE
TEXTILE 

Credit:
#2: Paula Gamache

SPELLING TEST FROM HELL #8

1. Accessory
2. Appalling
3. Cliche
4. Committed
5. Deodorant
6. Descendant
7. Filigree
8. Garage
9. Lascivious
10. Banana
11. Malign
12. Mayonnaise
13. Menagerie
14. Pageant
15. Precious
16. Precision
17. Transient
18. Hygiene
19. Voyeur
20. Xenophobia

MISSING LINK CLX

Each trio of words below shares a Missing Link - that is, its members have something in common, obvious or not. For example, RIVERS, NOSES, & VIOLINS can all have BRIDGES.

1. Free..........Foot..........Pit
2. Window..........Lunch..........Black
3. White..........Bread..........Sandwich
4. Engine..........Road..........Cell
5. Country..........Elevator..........Chamber
6. Saw..........Star..........Gold
7. Gun..........Card..........Blood
8. Car..........Fire..........Smoke
9. Fish..........Dust..........Coast
10. Resorts.....Shoe accessories.....Fussy diners

Answers:

1. Fall
2. Kinds of boxes
3. Kinds of boards
4. Blocks
5. Types of music
6. Dust
7. Things you can draw
8. Kinds of alarms
9. Gold
10. Spas, Spats, and Sprats

THE REFEREE OF ROMANCE
October 24, 2004
Patrick Berry (#1-7)

Each romantic misstep can be "penalized" with a football referee's call. For example, if a friend barges in while a guy is making amorous overtures, the ref declares PASS INTERFERENCE.

1. Fellow forgets to shave before kissing girlfriend. Ref declares .........

2. Dance floor remains empty at a debutante party. Ref declares ..........

3. Handsome, marriageable man enters room. Ref declares ..........

4. Guy gets grabby on first date. Ref declares ..........

5. Lovers embrace passionately in public place. Ref declares ..........

6. Man refuses to supply photo on Internet dating service. Ref declares ..........

7. Guy gets girl's phone number, but waits too long to use it. Ref declares ..........

8. Guy flirts with another girl in front of his girlfriend. Ref declares ..........

9. Guy skips a shower and deodorant before his date. Ref declares ..........

10. Guys keep cutting in on you to dance with your date. Ref declares ..........

Answers:

1. Unnecessary roughness
2. Dead ball
3. Fair catch
4. Illegal use of hands
5. Offensive holding
6. Face-masking
7. Delay of game
8. Illegal hit 
9. Personal foul 
10. Too many men on the field

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN XXII

What's the difference between:

1. An old oak and a circus?

2. A gym teacher and your picture on a Wheaties box?

3. Where you look when you look everywhere and a thief and an au pair?

4. "Your secret is safe with me." and "No new taxes" (George H.W. Bush)

Answers:

1. Tree rings and three rings
2. 1/100 of a second 
3. Nook and cranny - Crook and nanny 
4. "My lips are sealed." and "Read my lips."

1. What do the following words have in common?

CUR
FUR
COP
SPUR

2. What do the following words have in common?

MONEY
FRIDAY
CANNON

Answers:

1. Each word can be followed by IOUS to make a new word:

CURIOUS
FURIOUS
COPIOUS
SPURIOUS

2. Each of the three words can be preceded by (near) synonyms to form common phrases:

EASY MONEY
CASUAL FRIDAY
LOOSE CANON

Credit:
#2: Jennifer Nutt 

Each of the following words can be changed into a new one according to a certain pattern. What is the pattern and what are the new words?

1. DRESS
2. WRITING
3. VALET
4. ERIE
5. COMA
6. NUDE
7. INDICTED

Answers:

Each word can be changed into a new one by the insertion of a single letter - without any other change in the order of the letters:

1. DURESS
2. WRITHING 
3. VARLET
4. EERIE
5. COMMA
6. NUDGE
7. INDICATED


 

NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
October 15, 2017
Will Shortz

Each clue below has two parts. The answer to the first part is a word with one or two sets of double letters. Drop both or all four of the doubled letters, and you are left with a word that answers the second clue. For example, given the clues MUSSING and COURT DECISION, the answer words would be RUFFLING and RULING.

1. Type of column - Twine cousin
2. Buying and selling of goods - Force
3. Most straight-laced - Catholic official
4. Doesn't fail - Soapy water
5. One sharing living quarters - $79/night, for example

Answers:

1. STEERING - STRING
2. COMMERCE - COERCE
3. PRIMMEST - PRIEST
4. SUCCEEDS - SUDS
5. ROOMMATE - RATE 

ABRIDGED VERSIONS
NY Times Crossword
October 3, 2004
Randolph Ross

The answers to the clues below are titles of well-known books, but with a single letter deleted. For example, the clue BOOK THAT'S A PAEAN TO A PAINTER could be answered with THE DA VINCI ODE. The authors of the original books are given as hints below the clues.


1. Book about Rosa Parks
2. Book about hang-gliding
3. Book about a mutiny
4. Book of recipes people kvetch about
5. Book about the National Hockey League
6. Book that gives a small glimpse into the future
7. Book about diet and exercise for the upper legs
8. Book about a female that a married gander fooled around with

HINTS:
1. Jane Austen
2. Margaret Mitchell
3. Henry James
4. Irma S. Rombauer
5. John Steinbeck
6. Louisa May Alcott
7. James Hilton
8. Unknown

Answers:

1. Ride and Prejudice
2. One With the Wind
3. The Turn of the Crew 
4. The Oy of Cooking
5. Of Ice and Men
6. Little Omen
7. Goodbye Mr. Hips
8. Other Goose

NY Times Crossword
October 15, 2007
Andrea Carla Michaels

What do the following words have in common?

EATING
CRYING
PLAYING
TALKING

Answer:

Each word can be followed by the name of an animal to make a common phrase:

EATING CROW
CRYING WOLF
PLAYING POSSUM
TALKING TURKEY 

CONTRADICTIONS
Norma Steinberg

The answers to the clues below will be oxymorons.

1. Government employee who tells you to get lost
2. Wedding VIP who gets and drunk and loses the ring
3. Erie - comparatively
4. Santa Fe was part of it

Answers:

1. Rude civil servant
2. Worst best man
3. Small Great Lake
4. Old New Mexico

RHYMING RIDDLE ANSWERS LV

The answers to each item in the clues will rhyme.

1. Ocean floor explorer, Annoying car passenger, Working stiff, Liar  

2. Oil or coal, Simile for obstinacy, Elvis classic, "Girls rule, _____   ______"

3. Coupon user - perhaps, He liked Chantilly lace, Heavy shoe, Dick Tracy - for one, 

4. Make-up pioneer, Oscar category, John Deere product, Question to a prospective groom

5. Letters at the end of a mathematical proof,  New Deal work force, Korean War area,  6th sense

6. Leonard Cohen classic song, Twenty-something house hunter - perhaps, Sign on certain vehicles, Biblical metaphor for breaking the Sabbath

7. 24-hour ministry phone line, "Like that matters to me?" Drip dry fabric, Personal burden - metaphorically

8. " I do" - for one, Something held above criticism - often unreasonably, The present time, Honest way to earn a living - with "by the"

9. Groove cut into the face of a board, Children's modeling compound - resembling clay, Stayed out of sight, Exhibition promoting products and services of a particular industry

Answers:

1. Deep sea diver, Backseat driver, Rank and filer, Shuck and jiver

2. Fossil fuel, stubborn as a mule, Don' Be Cruel,  Boys drool

3. Smart shopper, Big Bopper, Clodhopper, Crime stopper, 

4. Max Factor, Best actor, Farm tractor, "Have you asked her?"

5. QED, CCC, DMZ, ESP

6. Bird on a Wire, First-time buyer, "Not for hire," Ox in the mire

7. Dial-a-Prayer, "As if I care," Wash and wear, Cross to bear

8. Solemn vow, Sacred cow, Here and now, Sweat of your brow

9. Dado, Play-Doh, Laid low, Trade show

ASPHALT JUNGLE
Fred Piscop

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Daniel Boone and a Chevy
2. Cousin of Daniel Boone and a Nissan
3. Wile E. Coyote's nemesis
4. Home's acceptance
5. Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson

Answers:

1. Trail blazer
2. Path finder
3. Road Runner
4. Street creds
5. The Highwaymen 

PUNCTUATION COUNTS III

LOVE, ACTUALLY
Joel D. Lafargue

Sweet nothings can turn into sour somethings:

Boyfriend's sweet nothing: In the moonlight, your eyes shine like pearls.
Girlfriend's response: And when were you in the moonlight with Pearl?

How many entertainers (mostly singers) can you think of who go or went by a single name? The 18 listed below are ones I am familiar with or at least have heard of. There are many more.

1. ELVIS
2. DION
3. DONOVAN
4. CHER
5. LIBERACE
6. STING
7. PRINCE
8. MADONNA
9. ADELE
10. BONO
11. BEYONCE
12. EMINEM
13. JEWEL
14. ENYA
15. RIHANNA
16. SHAKIRA
17. MORISSEY
18. MOBY

DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB

1. Superhero who is environmentally aware
2. Superhero who works in a hotel
3. Superhero with a single, popular record
4. Superhero circus performer
5. Superhero who needs an exterminator
6. Superhero who's the go-to guy for apartment problems

Answers:

1. Going Green Lantern
2. Bell Captain Marvel
3. One Hit Wonder Woman
4. Acro Batman
5. Green Hornet's nest
6. Building Superman

Credit:
Bud Gillis (#1-3)
SUPERHERO SANDWICHES 

FOUR RIDDLES

1. Why was algebra easy for the Romans?
2. Question to a tailor: How do you make pants last?
3. Why was the dental hygienist sad?
4. What vegetable do they put on sandwiches in Santa's workshop?
 
Answers:

1. Because X was always 10
2. Tailor's answer: Make the jacket first.
3. She had a sense of floss
4. Elf-elf-a sprouts


Credits:
#1. Richard Silvestri 
#2: Kelly Clark
#4: Nathaniel Weiss

The clues below have something in common that has nothing to do with their meanings and is revealed by the final clue. The final clue does not share the common characteristic of the others.

1. VINTAGE CAR
2. PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
3. VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
4. ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
5. VIRGINIA GENTLEMAN
6. PERIOD PRECEDING THE RENAISSANCE

HINT:
It  has to do with hidden words.

Answer:

Each of the first five clues conceals the word AGE somewhere near the middle. The answer to Clue 6 is MIDDLE AGES. 

Credit: Barry C. Silk
RENAISSANCE

The six phrases below are all anagrams of the same twelve-letter word. Can you determine what it is?

PAINTERS IDLE
INTREPID SEAL
SNIPER TAILED
LINES PIRATED
INTEL PRAISED
PANELIST IRED

Answer:

Each phrase is an anagram of PRESIDENTIAL. 

Credit: Pam Klawitter
PRESIDENTIAL MIX-UP

The following words have something in common. Can you determine what it is?

1. SALT
2. SAND
3. DUST
4. RAIN
5. PEPPER
6. WATER
7. TRUTH
8. PIE
9. CLASS
10. DECENCY
11. CONSCIENCE

(Possible) Answers:

Each word can be preceded by " _______ of" - meaning a very small amount - to form a common phrase:

1. PINCH of salt
2. GRAIN of sand
3. SPECK of dust
4. SPRINKLE of rain
5. DASH of pepper
6. DROP of water 
7. INCH of truth
8. SLIVER of pie
9. TOUCH of class 
10. SHRED of decency
11. TWINGE of conscience 

Credit: Peter Wentz
JUST A BIT

DIG DEEPER V (H-P)
Credit: Joseph Appel

How many familiar two-word phrases can you think of in which both words begin with the same letter, as in DIG DEEPER? There are a lot of them, so this is a work in progress.

(Possible) Answers: 

H:
Hard hat
Happy hour
Heave-ho
House hunting

I:
Interest income
Illegal immigration 
India ink

J:
Jumping jacks
Jumbo jet

K:
King Kong
Knick-knack

L:
Loss leader
Living large
Lala Land
Least likely
Love letter

M:
Mixed metaphor 
Money maker
Make merry 
Magic mirror
 

N:
Name names
No-nonsense
Non negotiable

O:
Olive oil
Opt out
Order out

P: 
Paper plates
Party pooper
Personality plus 
Pretty please
Pull punches 
Polo pony
Pizza pie 
Pitter-patter

NY Times Crossword
October 8, 2007
Steve Kahn (adapted)

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Loafer
2. Metaphor for a sharp mind
3. American folk blues legend
4. Ray of hope amid despair
5. Carousel prize
6. Hawaiian landmark
7. Dreaded symbol of polio
8. Ireland

Answers:

1. Gold bricker
2. Steel trap
3. Leadbelly
4. Silver lining
5. Brass ring
6. Diamond Head
7. Iron lung
8. Emerald Isle

NY Times Crossword
October 7, 2007
Nancy Salomon and Harvey Estes
(Title shown below)

The words and phrases below are arranged in a certain pattern that has nothing to do with their meanings. Can you figure out what's going on?

DEMARCATED                          TUPPERWARE PARTY
READ 'EM AND WEEP             CARE PACKAGES
                            DON'T MIND IF I DO
ACADEMY AWARD                  INSTANT REPLAY
I DEMAND A RECOUNT          SPARE PARTS

HINT:
The pattern involves hidden words.

Answer:

Each word on the left conceals the consecutive letters DEM. Each word on the right conceals REP, with IND hidden at dead center.

Puzzle title: POLITICAL POSITIONS 

MIND FLEXERS XXIII

Credit: GAMES/World of Puzzles
September, 2017
Rosalie Moscovitch

Answer each clue by matching it with one of the choices below. The relationships are disguised by the use of double meanings or altered spacing within words. The choices are in random order.

1. Spanking
2. Babysitter
3. Mainstay
4. Make a bet
5. Legit
6. Golf course
7. Headliner
8. ACDEFG
9. Prompter
10. Samovar on the table

CHOICES:
a. Bless
b. Dowager
c. Stagecoach
d. Golden Gate Bridge
e. Vacation cruise
f. Overturn
g. Highchair
h. Walk
i. Old age
j. Foreground

Answers:

1. d - Golden Gate Bridge (span king)
2. g - Highchair
3. e - Vacation cruise (main - sea)
4. b - Dowager (do wager)
5. h - Walk (leg it)
6. j - Foreground
7. i - Old age
8. a - Bless ( B-less)
9. c - Stagecoach
10. f - Overturn (overt urn)

CAUSE OF THE CAWS II

The answers to the clues below are based on homophones or near-homophones.

Example: Reason for the crows' noise
Answer: Cause of the caws

1. Line for pool sticks
2. Raisin cousin in the river
3. Stunned from Monday to Wednesday
4. Metal depressions very close together
5. Disagreement on genealogy
6. Abandon a slice of chocolate cake
7. That coloring fluid is incredible!
8. Separate and circumspect
9. Female deer made of bread ingredient
10. Female deer sleep

Answers:

1. Cue queue
2. Currant in the current
3. In a daze for days
4. Dense dents
5. Descent dissent
6. Desert a dessert
7. A dye to die for
8. Discrete and discreet
9. Dough doe
10. Does doze

DOUBLE DUTY LXXXVIII

Fill in the blanks with words which will complete the word or phrase beginning on the left and begin the word or phrase ending on the right. The number of blanks indicates the number of letters in the missing word.

1. BOX _ _ _ _ _ BOX
2. FOOT _ _ _ _ _ CHANGE
3. BLUE _ _ _ _ SHINE
4. SNOW _ _ _ _ WOOD
5. ECHO _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ORCHESTRA
6. CROSS _ _ _ _ _ WORK
7. LOCAL _ _ _ _ _ CODED
8. CHALK _ _ _ _ _ WALK
9. POISON _ _ _ KNIFE
10. SCARLET _ _ _ _ _ PITCH

HINTS:
The first of the missing letters:
1. L
2. L
3. M
4. D
5. C
6. P
7. C
8. B
9. P
10. F

Answers:

1. boxLUNCHbox
2. footLOOSEchange
3. blueMOONshine
4. snowDRIFTwood
5. echoCHAMBERorchestra
6. crossPATCHwork
7. localCOLORcoded
8. chalkBOARDwalk
9. poisonPENknife
10 scarletFEVERpitch

ADD A LETTER - GET A NEW WORD LXVII

Add the designated letter to each word and re-arrange the letters to get a new word.

1. WASH + C
2. ENTER + L
3. MYLAR + W
4. SCION + U
5. INTACT + I
6. TEMPER + P
7. DO RE MI + B
8. SEA LION + G
9. MANATEE + D
10. GAZELLE + I

HINTS:
1. Unaccented vowel
2. Give in
3. Cordially
4. Relative
5. Huge
6. Upstage
7. Cliche
8. Fuel
9. Arose from
10. Conform to law

Answers:

1. SCHWA
2. RELENT
3. WARMLY
4. COUSIN
5. TITANIC
6. PRE-EMPT
7. BROMIDE
8. GASOLINE
9. EMANATED
10. LEGALIZE

The phrases below have something in common that has nothing to do with their meanings. The common characteristic can be expressed as a familiar expression. Can you determine what it is?

1. Low fat omelet
2. Great omen
3. Roma tomatoes
4. Potato masher
5. Angora tomcat

HINT:
It's a science-based expression.

Answer:

In each phrase the word ATOM is divided between two words, suggesting the expression SPLITTING THE ATOM:

1. low fAT OMelet
2. greAT OMen
3. romA TOMatoes
4. potATO Masher
5. angorA TOMcat

Credit:
Billie Truitt
SPLITTING THE ..............

The answers to the clues below begin with the same three letters. Each answer can be changed into a familiar phrase by dropping those first three letters.

1. Evaluating Santa's landing place
2. Horrify Arthur's adherents
3. Seeking admission to nearby colleges

HINT:
The first three letters are APP.

Answers:

1. Appraising the roof - Raising the roof
2. Appall the king's men - All the king's men
3. Applying in state - Lying in state

Credit:
Richard Silvestri
APPS 

NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
October 8, 2017
Will Shortz

Within each sentence below, two or three words can be combined to sound like the name of a world capital. The words are in correct left-to-right order, but may not be consecutive. For example, in the sentence The Sigma Chi House can be found on Fraternity Row, the words CHI and ROW sound like CAIRO.

1. The opening bell rang for the grade school.
2. Mom got a bag of golf clubs for Dad on his birthday.
3. The Russians watched a black car whisk by Lenin's tomb.
4. After a meal at a Thai restaurant, I rose to pay the bill.
5. Even in the poor light, I could see the dinosaur's toe prints.
6. After taking the cat to the vet, the man wondered what he should do.

Answers:

1. Belgrade
2. Baghdad
3. Khartoum
4. Taipei
5. Port au Prince
6. Katmandu 

NY Times Crossword
October 11, 1994
Bernice Gordon (#1-4)

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Cheap wine or liquor
2. Voyeur
3. Pirate flag
4. Fair
5. Dion's 1961 girlfriend
6. Regular guy
7. Life of the party
8. Mr. Fix-it
9. Dessert similar to apple crisp
10. Table turntable

Answers:

1. Sneaky Pete
2. Peeping Tom
3. Jolly Roger
4. Even Steven
5. Runaround Sue
6. Average Joe 
7. Good-time Charlie
8. Handy Andy 
9. Brown Betty
10. Lazy Susan

MISSING LINK CLIX

Each trio of words below shares a Missing Link - that is, its members have something in common, obvious or not. For example, RIVERS, NOSES, & VIOLINS can all have BRIDGES.

1. Bible..........Safety..........Timing
2. Tie..........Bread..........Promise
3. Island..........Circle..........School
4. Ball..........Hint..........Subject
5. Bar..........Top..........Bone
6. Spirit..........Rein..........Lunch
7. Street..........Stitch..........Swords
8. Report..........Case..........Bag
9. Buck..........Bill..........Back
10. Green..........Ka-ching..........Plutomania

Answers:

1. Kinds of belts
2. Things you can break
3. Traffic
4. Things you can drop
5. T
6. Free
7. Cross
8. Book
9. Board
10. Color, Sound, and Love of money 

OLD VINYL
LA Times Crossword
October 4, 2017
C.C. Burnikel

The clues below have something in common that is related to the title of this puzzle and to a person who keeps repeating himself. Can you see the connections?

LEMON DROP
LABOR CAMP
LOCATOR MAP
LAMB CHOP
LOADED UP
LAVA LAMP

Answers:

Each clue begins with L and ends with P. LP is an abbreviation for a long-playing record. LPs were made of  vinyl.  They were played on turntables using a stylus. If the record was scratched, the stylus would get stuck and keep repeating the same thing - a broken record - or person who keeps whining about the same thing. This is re-enforced by the L and P repeating themselves in each clue and by being broken by the intervening letters. 

NY Times Crossword
October 4, 2017
Evan Mahnken

Q. Where "house party" is in the dictionary?
A. After "hours"

"House party" is found alphabetically after "hours" in the dictionary, but a house party is usually going on after hours (i.e. late at night).

Using similar logic, can you answer the following clues?

1. Where "new" is in the dictionary
2. Where "isolated" is in the dictionary
3. Where "flanked" is in the dictionary
4. Where "menial" is in the dictionary
5. Where "midday" and "one" are in the dictionary.

Answers:

1. Near mint
2. By itself
3. Under fire
4. Beneath me
5. Around noon

MULTIPLE HOMOPHONES I

How many words can you think of that have at least three common homophones, or near homophones? For example: METAL, METTLE, MEDAL, MEDDLE

(Possible) Answers:

1. AIR, ERE, ERR, HEIR
2. BARING, BEARING, BERING (strait)
3. BLUE, BLEW, BLEU (cheese)
4. BOLL, BOWL, BOLE
5. BORE, BOAR, BOER
6. BY, BYE, BUY
7. CENTS, SENSE, SCENTS
8. CARAT, KARAT, CARET, CARROT
9. CITE, SITE, SIGHT
10. CREWS, CRUISE, CRUSE

NY Times Crossword
October 18, 1994
Harvey Estes (#1-3)

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. "Wait a minute!"
2. "Rough ride ahead!"
3. "Get ready for hard times!""
4. "Try to see it may way!"
5. "He's human - just like the rest of us!"

Answers:

Each clue can be answered with an expression containing an article of clothing:

1. Keep you shirt on!
2. Hold onto your hat!
3. Tighten you belt!
4. Walk a mile in my shoes!
5. He puts his pants on one leg at a time!

What do the following words have in common?

PIE
FLY
BULL
BATS
DOG
BUMP

Answers:

Each word can by followed by "in the _______" to make a familiar phrase:

PIE in the sky
FLY in the ointment
BULL in a China shop
BATS in the belfry
DOG in the manger
BUMP in the night 

Credit: Raymond Hamel 
OUT OF THEIR ELEMENT

The answers to the clues below are words which belong to a very small, highly unusual group of English words. What are the words, and why are they distinctive?

1. Disapprove
2. Cling
3. Remain unscathed
4. Commendation
5. Tied down

Answers:

1. Sanction
2. Cleave
3. Weather
4. Citation
5. Bound

These words are self-contradicting. They have two opposite meanings. They are sometimes called auto-antonyms. Sanction means to disapprove, but also to approve. Cleave means to cling, but also to separate. Weather means to remain unscathed, but also to show wear or damage. A citation can be a commendation or a reprimand - as a traffic citation. Bound means tied down, but also to spring away. 

Credit: Robert W. Harris
THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT

NY Times Crossword
October 3, 2017
Chuck Deodene

The two phrases below conceal two related words, in correct left-to-right, consecutive order. Can you spot them?

PARALLEL BARS
FORMAL TALKS

HINT:
The words are names of places.

Answer:

Each phrase conceals the name of an island:

parallEL BArs
forMAL TAlks

The following words are related in a certain way, but not by their meanings. Can you discover the connection?

ENTRANCE
SURGERY
MUSTARD
KANGAROO
PUNISHMENT
KNOWLEDGE

Answers:

Each word can be preceded by a military rank:

Private entrance
Major surgery
Colonel Mustard (suspect in Clue) 
Captain Kangaroo (of children's TV)
Corporal punishment 
General knowledge

The words below are deliberately disguised according to a certain pattern. Can you decipher the words and predict the clever "reveal" in the final clue?

1. EDAJ
2. LAPO
3. YBUR
4. DNOMAID
5. DLAREME
6. Search thoroughly

Answers:

The words are the names of precious gems, written in reverse:

1. JADE
2. OPAL
3. RUBY
4. DIAMOND
5. EMERALD
6. Leave no stone unturned.

Credit:
Larry Shearer
BACKUP ROCK GROUP

BAD PUNS VII
Sharon Charpino

The answer to each clue is a bad pun.

1. Just melody
2. Really? - as in an operatic solo
3. Fight songs for a German soccer club
4. Songs heard before bedtime at the mosastery

Answers:

1. Rightful air
2. Aria kidding?
3. Team lieder
4. Last chants 

MORE ACTUAL NEWSPAPER HEADLINES II

THIEVES GET 9 MONTHS IN VIOLIN CASE
VACCINE MAY CONTAIN RABIES
STOLEN CAR FOUND BY TREE
HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS CUT IN HALF
RED TAPE HOLDS UP BRIDGE
HOSPITAL SUED BY 7 FOOT DOCTORS
TEAMSTER ADIVSOR MUDERED*

*Look closely.

  Two of the three words in this headline are misspelled.

LA Times Crossword
October 1, 2017
Gail Grabowski

What do the following words have in common?

VINE
VERSE
STRICT
STRESS
STANCE

Answer:

Each word can be preceded by DI to make a new, unrelated word:

DIVINE
DIVERSE
DISTRICT
DISTRESS
DISTANCE

DIG DEEPER IV (A-G)
Credit: Joseph Appel

How many familiar two-word phrases can you think of in which both words begin with the same letter, as in DIG DEEPER? There are a lot of them, so this is a work in progress.

(Possible) Answers:

A:
Ask around
All-around 
After all
Amber alert
Adam's apple

B: 
Big brother
Big bang
Break bread 
Bread box
Boom box
Ballot box
Black box 
Bread basket
Burning Bush
Blue blood
Bunsen burner
Back burner
Back breaker
Best bet 
Brown bag
Baby boomer
Baby blanket
Belly button

C:
Career criminal
Credit card
Cash cow
Cash crop
Cut corners 
Carrot cake
Cape Cod
Crash course
Collision course
Culture clash
Chocolate chip
Card catalogue
Common cold
Cattle call
Cable car 
Clear complexion 
Closed case
Counter culture
Cubic centimeters
Candy cane
Closed casket
Closed circuit
Country club
Country cousin 
Cancelled check
Cashier's check
Class clown
Carbon copy
Candid Camera

D:
Double down 
Draw down
Dear diary
Dilly-dally
Dog days
Dust devil

E:
Easter egg
Extra effort 
Evil eye

F:
Fast food
Fast forward
Face facts
Freeze-frame
Feel free
Finder's fee
Frequent flier
Fiery furnace
Flash flood 
Fly fishing
Farm-fresh
Free fall
Fudge factor
Friendly fire
Family friend(ly)
Faithful friend
Fossil fuel
Founding Fathers 

G:
Gain ground
Go-getter
Good guess 
Good grief