NY Times Crossword
February 12, 2020
Rich Proulx

The answers to the clues in this clever puzzle are familiar phrases, each of which conceals a related name - with the letters in correct, but not consecutive order. After you identify the phrases and discover the hidden names, there is one more thing the phrases have in common. What is it?

1. Romantic maxim about the ultimate victory
2. Sure things, to Ben Franklin
3. They make loud noises during showers
4. Sadly unfulfilled title of 1910's conflict

Answers:

1. LOVE CONQUERS ALL
2. DEATH AND TAXES
3. THUNDER STORMS
4. WAR TO END ALL WARS

Hidden names:

1. loVE coNqUerS all - VENUS
2. deatH AnD taxES - HADES 
3. THunder stORms - THOR
4. wAR to End all warS - ARES

What the phrases have in common:

1. Venus is the Roman goddess of love.
2. Hades is the Greek god of death and the underworld.
3. Thor is the Norse god of thunder and lightning.
4. Ares is the Greek god of war.