What do the following words have in common?

1. Oil

2. Pear

3. Mail

4. Tears

5. Veins

6. Opera

7. Works

 

Answer:

 

Each word can be preceded by the name of an animal to make a familiar phrase:

 

1. Snake oil

2. Alligator pear (avocado)

3. Snail mail 

4. Crocodile tears

5. Spider veins

6. Horse opera 

7. Skunk Works