NY Times Crossword
December 25, 2014
Xan Vongsathorn

The words and phrases below have something in common that is revealed by the final two clues. Can you determine what it is?

OUTNUMBER
FUN TIME
CHUTNEY
PETUNIA
TARANTULA
AMOUNT
SPUTNIK
ROTUNDA
DOWNTURN
CLASSIC CHRISTMAS BALLET
PARTY SNACK

Answers to the final two clues:

NUTCRACKER
MIXED NUTS

Each of the clue words conceals the letters N, U, and T in scrambled, but consecutive order (oUTNumber).