| 100% | THESPADESOFJACK | 15 | "You don't have to be a gardener to dig this book about Kerouac's tools" |
| 49% | RUDE | 4 | "You don't have to be a jerk about it!" |
| 41% | DROPMEALINE | 11 | "Don't be a stranger!" ... or what you have to do three times in this puzzle |
| 40% | ANTE | 4 | You have to be upfront about this |
| 39% | ARREST | 6 | You don't want to be under this |
| 37% | THATGUY | 7 | Fellow you don't want to be, in a phrase |
| 37% | ANACONDA | 8 | One you don't want to have a crush on you |
| 36% | AISLESEAT | 9 | Sit here if you don't want to be by a window |
| 35% | READABLE | 8 | Like a book that you don't want to put down |
| 35% | OFFICEMAXIM | 11 | "You don't have to be busy to look busy," e.g.? |
| 34% | IMSAFE | 6 | "You don't have to worry about me" |
| 34% | CLIMAX | 6 | Point during a movie when you really don’t want to be interrupted |
| 34% | CAN | 3 | "I don't know, "___" you?" phrase to correct a student's grammar that you have probably heard from your teacher |
| 34% | ACRO | 4 | High-rise window cleaner is not a job to apply for if you have this type of phobia |
| 34% | LEG | 3 | "You don't have a ___ to stand on!" |
| 33% | ISAW | 4 | "You don't have to tell me about it" (2 wds.) |
| 33% | LISTEN | 6 | You don't have to face the music to do it |
| 33% | ELECTIVE | 8 | You don't have to take it |
| 33% | SAND | 4 | You will need to have a 1-inch layer of this grainy beach material in your snow globe terrarium |
| 33% | WITS | 4 | It's good to have these about you |
| 32% | NONEED | 6 | "Really, you don't have to" |
| 32% | NONEED | 6 | "Seriously, you don't have to" |
| 32% | CLUE | 4 | A crossword editor has to be very careful when changing one--unlike this puzzle's editor, who was careless four times herein |
| 32% | TROOPERS | 8 | You don't want to be on their radar |
| 32% | OPTIONAL | 8 | Something you don't have to choose |
| 32% | ELECTIVES | 9 | What you don't have to take |
| 32% | RENAME | 6 | It's said to be bad luck if you do this to a boat |
| 32% | ROW | 3 | You don't want to be in the last one |
| 32% | ARREST | 6 | Something you don't want to be under |
| 32% | THEREVIEWSAREIN | 15 | "Critics have spoken"... or a hint to what's been added to this puzzle's themed answers |