NY Times Crossword
September 6, 2018
Jeff Chen

The theme of this clever puzzle is the answer to the clue Hidden trouble indicator..... or what you'll need to finish this crossword. Can you figure out what's going on?

S O M A A E U
L V E  R S N N
A E R  E T U  I
M RG  S E N T
    C E     R C
    H S     N I
    A            A
    R            T
    G            I
    E            O
    S            N

HINTS:
1. Read the clues going down.
2. Another word is needed across the top.
3. The word written across the top will change each down word into a new word or phrase.

Answer:

Hidden trouble indicator.....or what you'll need to finish this crossword:

TIP OF THE ICEBERG

If you write the word ICEBERG at the top (tip) of the clues, each word - reading down - is changed into a new one:

I  C  E  B E R G 
S  O M A A E U
L  V E  R S N N
A  E R  E T U I
M R G  S E N T
     C E     R C
     H S     N  I
     A             A
     R             T
     G             I
     E             O
     S              N 

Note from JA: In the original puzzle, the reveal word ICEBERG was written at the top - outside the grid. So the first down clue - It's symbolized with a star and crescent - was answered with SLAM inside the grid - which didn't make any sense until the revealer clue changed it to ISLAM. The same pattern applied to the other clues - making for a tricky, but very clever puzzle.