TWO'S COMPANY - THREE'S A CROWD
Credit: NPR Weekend Edition Sunday Puzzle
February 8, 2015
Will Shortz

Each clue below consists of two words. Using the first three letters of the first word and the first three letters of the second word, form two new words which are opposites. The first three letters in both words remain in order in the new words.You may add more letters after the first three in both words as needed. For example, given the clue HEALTH FOOD, you would use the HEA in HEALTH and the FOO in FOOD to form HEAD - FOOT.

1. TALENT SHOW
2. SMALL STUFF
3. FINANCIAL STATEMENT
4. PLAIN WORDS
5. STRATEGIC WEAPON
6. CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
7. TENNIS TOURNAMENT
8. IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE
9. CONGRESSIONAL LIBRARY

Answers:

1. TALL - SHORT 
2. SMART - STUPID
3. FINISH - START
4. PLAY - WORK
5. STRONG - WEAK
6. CHEAP - EXPENSIVE
7. TENDER - TOUGH
8. IMPORT - EXPORT
9. CONSERVATIVE - LIBERAL