NY Times Crossword
September 15, 2016
Ian Livengood

The clues in the left-hand column can be matched with their crossword answers in the right-hand column according to a certain pattern. The answers in the right-hand column are in random order. Can you determine the pattern and connect each clue to its corresponding answer?

1. URN                         LET'S DO IT!
2. SLIT                         SPAY
3. PACER                     ERRANT
4. PLUMS                    AREA
5. NEVER                    OPERATE
6. IGNORE                   MOXIE
7. TENURE                  TILT        
8. GEARED                  EASES UP
9. NESTLER                 LARK
10. STINGRAY            SAG

(BIG) HINT:
It has to do with anagrams.

Answers:

Each clue in the left-hand column can be anagrammed into another word which corresponds to one of the answers in the right-hand column:

1. URN - RUN - OPERATE
2. SLIT - LIST - TILT
3. PACER - CAPER - LARK
4. PLUMS - SLUMP - SAG
5. NEVER - NERVE - MOXIE
6. IGNORE - REGION - AREA
7. TENURE - NEUTER - SPAY
8. GEARED - AGREED - LET'S DO IT!
9. NESTLER - RELENTS - EASES UP
10. STINGRAY - STRAYING - ERRANT