CHAIN REACTION

Credit: NY Times Crossword - June 22, 2008

Pamela Amick Klawitter

Can you think of a common two-word phrase that will fill in the blanks below such that the first missing word will complete a phrase with the word at its left, and the second missing word will begin a phrase ending with the word on its right.

For example, given FOOD COURT _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ CIRCUIT BOARD, the missing phrase would be CASE CLOSED - - as in COURT CASE and CLOSED CIRCUIT. The number of blanks indicates the number of letters in each missing word.

1. ROOM SERVICE _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ LIGHT TOUCH

2. LIGHT TOUCH _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ BELL PEPPER

3. BELL PEPPER _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ BRUSH FIRE

4. BRUSH FIRE _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ SMART CAR

5. SMART CAR _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ _ PIANO BAR

6. PIANO BAR _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ TRAIL HEAD

7. TRAIL HEAD _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ COUNTER TOP

8. COUNTER TOP _ _ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ POST OFFICE

Answers:

1. ROAD HAZARD

2. SCREEN DOOR

3. SPRAY PAINT

4. WALL STREET

5, POOL PLAYER

6. GRAPH PAPER

7. MASTER CARD

8. DOLLAR SIGN