NY Time Crossword
December 15, 2014
Zhouqin Burnikel and Dennis Ryall
(Title shown below)

A single word describes a common feature of all the clues below. It has nothing to do with their meanings or the rhyming pairs. What is the word?

SKINNY DIP
SKI TRIP
SUMMER CAMP
STUDY LAMP
STEEL TRAP
SAFETY CAP

HINT:
All the clues have the same two letters in the same two places.

Answer:

Each clue begins with S and ends with P. 
So each clue goes from S to P - - - - STOP 

Puzzle title: FREEZE!