Solution: Neat analogy - NYT Crossword

I thought this entry was a little funky. Maybe because I’d never heard the phrase neat AS A PIN before, but even then, I just think the expression is odd. It feels like some weird amalgam of two expressions, like when I say, “back of the napkin math,” or “case in point.” Despite that, I think it works well in this puzzle for two reasons. First, it appears to be a real expression, whether I knew it or not. Second, the answers crossing it are all very interesting. I say it’s worth it, and it’s nice to learn something from a crossword.