The Rest

Phonetics

By Asilata Bapat and Kevin Carde

Answer: PANICKING

This is the P metapuzzle. Each P-word input may be split phonetically into three smaller words, each of which fits a clue in the corresponding column. "PHONETICS = FOE NET TICKS" has already been inserted in this way. The six input words split into the grid as follows. Note that the answers in each column are sorted alphabetically to facilitate this process.

POLITELY = POLE LIGHT LEE
POLYNOMIAL = POLLY NO MEAL
PROGRAMMING = PRO GRAM MING
PRODUCTION = PROD DUCK SHUN
PUNISHMENT = PUN ISH MEANT
PSYCHOPATH = SIGH COPE PATH

Enemy	FOE	Manage	COPE	Card rank
Cookware		Bird	DUCK	General	LEE
Rule violation?	POLE	Unit	GRAM	Food	MEAL
Parrot	POLLY	Gross		Intended	MEANT
Expert	PRO	Somewhat	ISH	Dynasty	MING
Urge	PROD	Easy	LIGHT	Route	PATH
Joke	PUN	Capture	NET	Ignore	SHUN
Breath	SIGH	Negative	NO	Bugs	TICKS

Again using the fact that column answers are sorted alphabetically, we may guess that the remaining blanks clue "PAN ICK KING = PANICKING", which is the answer.