R MOVING DAY
Credit: LA Times Crossword
July 5, 2015
Merl Reagle

Each clue below can be answered by moving an R out of a common phrase and inserting it somewhere else in the phrase. Wordplay is fair play.

For example, given the clue:

Mel's least favorite way to be greeted when he was a kid. 

The answer would be:

IT'S GEEK TORME.

The common phrase is IT'S GREEK TO ME. Moving the R from GREEK and inserting it in TO ME answers the clue by changing GREEK into GEEK and TO ME into (Mel) TORME.

A hint is given after each clue.

1. Put-down of a female-oriented slapstick comedy (FACE)
2. Ridiculing a yak (BEAST)
3. Clenched hand of a Biblical woman on a certain day (FIST)
4. Dance with the treble turned completely off (BASS)
5. Come down with measels (CONTACT)
6. Did cardio workouts ((HEART)
7. Talking horse in Special Forces attire (BEET)
8. What may break out when kids are on pot-scouring duty (BILL)

Answers:

1. SUCH A PETTY FARCE (PRETTY FACE)
2. BEAST BERATING (BREAST BEATING)
3. FIST OF MARY (FIRST OF MAY)
4. GET DOWN TO BASS TRACKS (BRASS TACKS)
5. CONTRACT SPOTS (CONTACT SPORTS)
6. TUNED UP THE HEART (TURNED UP THE HEAT)
7. ED AS A BERET (RED AS A BEET)
8. BRILLO FIGHTS (BILL OF RIGHTS)