CUT IT OUT II
From BRAIN GAMES FOR WORD NERDS
Francis Heaney

Each clue below leads to a two-word phrase in which the two words are nearly identical, except the second one has a letter cut out. For example, the clue SPEEDY FORAY gives the answer RAPID RAID.

1. All-encompassing embrace
2. Piece of audio equipment in a drizzle
3. Guru did a few laps in the pool
4. Extra ship's mast
5. Dromedary arrived
6. Angel's out-of-tune instrument
7. Visitors play Twenty Questions
8. Masculine, for the most part
9. Newsletter for the very poor
10. Puts some Granny Smiths to use
11. Change in a quarrel
12. Master of a classical Indian instrument
13. Driver and passengers, all safely buckled up
14. Series of flashback scenes featuring Romeo and his family

Answers:

1. Huge hug
2. Damp amp
3. Swami swam
4. Spare spar
5. Camel came
6. Sharp harp
7. Guests guess
8. Mainly manly 
9. Pauper paper
10. Applies apples
11. Altercation alteration
12. Sitar star
13. Careful carful
14. Montague montage