NY Times Crossword
March 1. 2020
Mike Torch

Each of the following three-letter words can be changed into a different word according to the same pattern. What is the pattern and what are the new words?

CON
CUT
FAT
FOR
FUR
TAN

HINTS:
1. The change involves inserting two letters.
2. The second of the two letters is O.

Answer:

Each word can be changed into a new one by inserting the letters LO somewhere in the word:

COLON
CLOUT
FLOAT
FLOOR
FLOUR
TALON