1. The three phrases below have something in common. Can you determine what it is?

FBI AGENTS
CARRIAGE TRADE
CRIBBAGE BOARD

2. What do the four words below have in common?

FLY
POP
LINE
GROUND

3. What do the following phrase and words  have in common?

SURE THING
STAIR
PILLOW
ABACUS

HINTS:
1. It has to do with a time of life.
2. It has to do with a sport.
3. Each word suggests a familiar three-word phrase.

Answers:

1)
fbi AGEents
carriAGE trade
cribbAGE board - - - Middle age

2. They all are a type of OUT in baseball:

Fly out, pop out, line out, ground out

3.
Sure thing - BET ON IT
Stair - STEP ON IT
Pillow - SLEEP ON IT
Abacus - COUNT ON IT

Credits:
1: NY Times Crossword
    April 11, 2006
    Lee Glickstein and Nancy Salomon 
2: LA Times Crossword
    April 16, 2018
    Jake Braun