LA Times Crossword
October 28, 2019
Craig Stow

The answers to the first four clues have something in common, as revealed by the answer to the fifth clue.

1. Do business shrewdly
2. Murmur lovingly 
3. Most basic experimentation method
4. Foot partsA in a typical walking stride
5. Area of compromise (as between two extreme positions)

Answers:

1. WHEEL AND DEAL
2. BILL AND COO 
3. TRIAL AND ERROR
4. HEEL AND TOE
5. Middle ground

The word LAND (ground) appears in the middle of each clue answer:

1. wheeL AND deal
2. bilL AND coo
3. triaL AND error
4. heeL AND toe