| 100% | WERE | 4 | "And before you ask, yes they ___" |
| 48% | EVERYONE | 8 | You, me and them |
| 48% | IDSAYSO | 7 | "If you ask me, yes!" (3 wds.) |
| 48% | CHOREBELIEFS | 12 | "Always dust before you vacuum" and others? |
| 47% | RERUNS | 6 | You may have seen them before |
| 46% | AESOP | 5 | Coiner of "Look before you leap" and "sour grapes" |
| 46% | JOJOMOYES | 9 | Romance novelist of Me Before You and Still Me |
| 46% | RERUNS | 6 | You've seen them before |
| 46% | MOLE | 4 | (4/7) Time for some Whac-A-___ action! You raise the mallet, take aim, and start bopping those sneaky critters before they disappear! |
| 45% | SPOILERALERT | 12 | Important warning before you answer 32-, 40- and 52-Across? |
| 45% | IWOULD | 6 | "If you're asking me, yes" |
| 45% | BLOCKING | 8 | Stopping punches before they reach you |
| 44% | BLANK | 5 | Like the squares in this crossword before you fill them in |
| 44% | WAIVER | 6 | You might sign one before they let you skydive |
| 44% | CHICKENS | 8 | You shouldn't count them before they're hatched |
| 44% | WATERBEDS | 9 | They toss and turn when you toss and turn |
| 44% | GREATWHITESHARKS | 16 | They might cost you an arm and a leg |
| 44% | ADS | 3 | They pop up and try to sell you things |
| 44% | FIRS | 4 | You may visit a lot of them before Christmas |
| 44% | TREBEK | 6 | He answers questions before they're asked |
| 44% | WORDS | 5 | You can mince them and eat them |
| 44% | RERUNS | 6 | You might see them now and again |
| 43% | SPOONS | 6 | You stir tea and eat soup and desserts with them |
| 43% | STILTS | 6 | They'll put you head and shoulders above everyone else |
| 43% | RISKS | 5 | You should know about all the ___ and rewards before investing |
| 43% | INSIDEJOKES | 11 | You might not get them, and what the circles contain |
| 43% | SIR | 3 | Word before and after yes, in the military |
| 43% | LOVEME | 6 | Title words before "Do" and after "Do You" |
| 43% | ITSANO | 6 | “I asked, and they said we can’t” |
| 42% | SNLHOSTS | 8 | They almost always say "Ladies and gentlemen ..." before a musical guest |