LA Times Crossword
June 2, 2017
Paul Coulter
TURN OF PHRASE

The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Idle
2. Sea wall or barrier
3. Conductor's signal
4. Returned

HINT:
The puzzle title is a hint.

Answers:

1. Doing nothing
2. Breakwater
3. Downbeat
4. Handed back

What the clue answers have in common: 

Each answer could be reversed to form a common phrase:

1. Nothing doing
2. Water break
3. Beat down
4. Back-handed