CLICHE COMBOS
100th Anniversary Crossword Book
Merl Reagle

English has a lot of "idiomatic married couples."  For example, a woman with very little on is rarely described as barely clad or minimally clad, but always "scantily clad." Can you supply the married couple idiom to the following phrases?

1. Not just the plain truth, but the __________ truth
2. Not just a great idea, but a _________ idea
3. Not just went well, but went __________
4. Not just a total amateur, but a __________ amateur
5. Not just at high speed, but at _________ speed
6. Not just a large sum, but a __________sum
7. Not just got along well, but got along __________
8. Not just very doable, but __________ doable
9. Not just particularly lacking, but __________ lacking
10. Not just terrible poverty, but __________ poverty

Answers:

1. unvarnished truth
2. capital idea
3. went swimmingly
4. rank amateur
5. breakneck speed
6. princely sum
7. got along famously
8. eminently doable
9. sorely lacking
10. abject poverty