| 100% | LETSEAT | 7 | "Dinner!" ... and a hint to the first word of 21-, 27-, 44- and 53-Across |
| 66% | TOPBANANA | 9 | Head honcho, and a hint to the first word of 3-, 8-, 21-, or 24-Down |
| 66% | HOLDIT | 6 | "Stop right there!" … or a hint to the first words of 17-, 23-, 47- and 59-Across |
| 64% | FINISHINGSECOND | 15 | Placing (and a hint to the first words of 17-, 24-, 47- and 60-Across) |
| 64% | ROLLINGINDOUGH | 14 | Wealthy, and a hint to the first word of 20-, 35- and 40-Across |
| 63% | STARTINGSALARIES | 16 | Entry-level wages, and a hint to the first words of 18-, 28-, and 49-Across |
| 62% | THEPLOTTHICKENS | 15 | "Now things are getting interesting" ... or a hint to the first words of 17-, 24-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 61% | SPEAKOFTHEDEVIL | 15 | "We were just talking about you!" and a hint to the first words of the answers to the starred clues |
| 61% | SEEMEAFTERCLASS | 15 | Ominous request from a teacher ... or a hint to the first words (and following letters!) of 17-, 26- and 43-Across |
| 61% | FIGUREHEAD | 10 | Carved decoration on a ship's prow ... or a hint to the first word of 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across |
| 61% | OPENINGBELL | 11 | Exchange ringer, and a hint to the first words of the starred answers |
| 60% | XMARKSTHESPOT | 13 | Treasure-indicating phrase, and a hint to the first words of the starred answers |
| 60% | LIGHTHEADED | 11 | Feeling woozy ... and a hint to the first words of the answers to starred clues |
| 59% | COLLEGESTATION | 14 | Texas city ... and a hint to the starts of 21-, 27-, 45- and 56-Across |
| 59% | MARKETOPENING | 13 | What ringing a certain bell signals, and a hint to the first words of this puzzle's movie titles |
| 58% | MATCHMAKERS | 11 | Facilitators of love connections, and a hint to the first words of 17-, 28- and 47-Across |
| 57% | WELLPLAYED | 10 | "How clever of you!," and a hint to the first words of the answers to the starred clues |
| 56% | SCRAMBLEDEGGS | 13 | Breakfast order ... and a hint to the last words of 17-, 26-, 51- and 58-Across |
| 56% | MIDDLE | 6 | With 44-Down, educational stage ... or a hint to the contents of 18-, 22-, 47- and 53-Across |
| 55% | CHILDSPLAY | 10 | "Piece of cake!" (and a hint to the starts of 17-Across and 11- and 27-Down) |
| 55% | WHATSTHEBIGDEAL | 15 | "Why so worried?" (and a hint to the last words of 17-, 24-, 51- and 64-Across) |
| 55% | RAINRAINGOAWAY | 14 | Start of a hopeful rhyme about bad weather, and a hint to what the first word of 16-, 24- and 46-Across may describe |
| 55% | NOTMYFIRSTRODEO | 15 | "Done this before, you know!" ... or a hint to the last words of 17-, 23-, 31-, 40- and 48-Across |
| 55% | REDANDWHITE | 11 | Like the Canadian flag ... and a hint to the first names of 24- and 48-Across |
| 55% | SPLITENDS | 9 | Hair challenge … or a hint to the last words of 17-, 25-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 54% | GIMMEABREAK | 11 | "You gotta be joking!" and a hint to the last parts of 21-, 31- and 42-Across |
| 54% | PLAYINGWITHFIRE | 15 | Doing something risky ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 24-, 49- and 58-Across |
| 54% | SAUSAGELINK | 11 | Breakfast side order ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 23-, 34- and 49-Across |
| 54% | IMONYOURSIDE | 12 | Words of full support, or a hint to the ends of 20-, 27-, 35- and 48-Across |
| 53% | PUTINAGOODWORD | 14 | Recommend, with "for," and a hint to the start of 20-, 25- and 44-Across |