| 100% | WIRE | 4 | "Down to the ___," common phrase meaning "until the last minute," that has its origins in horse racing |
| 99% | SITU | 4 | In ___ (Latin phrase that means "in its original place") |
| 97% | WABE | 4 | Word in "Jabberwocky" that Lewis Carroll said meant "the side of a hill (from its being soaked by rain)" |
| 96% | UNLESS | 6 | "___ it rains, we'll go for a picnic tomorrow" (except if) |
| 96% | ENIWETOK | 8 | Pacific Ocean atoll taken by the US from Japan in 1944 that later became a testing ground for atomic weapons |
| 96% | ATE | 3 | You shouldn't be surprised that it could be up to a year since your pet anaconda last did this |
| 95% | UPTOP | 5 | Phrase that might mean "Gimme a high five!": 2 wds. |
| 94% | PIN | 3 | "Let's put a ___ in it for now" ("We'll talk about that later") |
| 94% | ENIWETOK | 8 | Atoll in the Pacific Ocean taken by the US from Japan in 1944 that later became a testing ground for atomic weapons |
| 93% | INAPICKLE | 9 | Phrase that contains a vegetable and means "facing difficulties": 3 wds. |
| 92% | LIGHTBULB | 9 | "... does it take to change a ___?": 2 wds. (classic joke cycle) |
| 92% | XXXX | 4 | "How did it take me so long to see that?" |
| 92% | ETAL | 4 | Citation phrase that's a word meaning "tardy" spelled backward |
| 92% | IOU | 3 | Letters that mean "we'll settle up later" |
| 90% | FAIT | 4 | __ accompli, French phrase meaning a done deal |
| 89% | ROOF | 4 | It's "raised" while doing a late '90s dance move |
| 89% | AMONG | 5 | ___ Us (computer game that takes place on a spaceship) |
| 89% | AMONG | 5 | "___ Us" (computer game that takes place on a spaceship) |
| 88% | STURDILY | 8 | In a way that's meant to last |
| 88% | TEAL | 4 | Color that takes its name from a bird |
| 88% | TEAL | 4 | Color that takes its name from a duck |
| 88% | NIXON | 5 | Who said "When the President does it, that means it's not illegal" |
| 88% | STARE | 5 | Elicit the line "Take a picture, it'll last longer," say |
| 87% | ITWAS | 5 | "___ a long time ago that we last met...": 2 wds. |
| 87% | GROUNDHOG | 9 | Animal that sees its shadow for a late spring |
| 87% | OHIO | 4 | Columbus' state that takes its name from a river |
| 86% | JOT | 3 | ___ or tittle (Biblical phrase that means "a very small amount") |
| 86% | ESL | 3 | Course that a newcomer to the US might take: Abbr. |
| 86% | TANGO | 5 | Dance that takes two to do, according to a saying |
| 86% | LEFIGARO | 8 | Leading newspaper that took its name from a stage comedy |