NY Times Crossword

February 11, 2021

Alex Eaton-Salners

SINGULAR AND PLURAL

 

The phrases below can be deciphered according to a certain pattern to yield common expressions. Can you figure out what's going on? The puzzle title is a hint.

 

[Opinion from JA: Very clever puzzle]

 

1.  COMEDIEDIEFFECT

2. TWELFELFTEPS

3. NAMANMANAMES

4. COFFOOTFOOTABLE

 

Answer:

 

Each clue contains two repeated singular words. If you substitute the plural form of the word and adjust the spacing, the phrase will make sense: 

 

1. comeDIEDIEffect - comeDICEffect = COMEDIC EFFECT

2. twELFELFteps - twELVESteps = TWELVE STEPS*

3. naMANMANames - naMENames = NAME NAMES

4. cofFOOTFOOTable - cofFEETable = COFFEE TABLE

 

*TWELVE STEPS is the program of Alcoholics Anonymous.