| 100% | LEAFS | 5 | As she ___ through the yellow pages, my eyes try in vain to grab a word or two from the handwriting |
| 31% | LESION | 6 | Word derived from the Latin word for injury that my six year old might refer to as a "boo-boo" |
| 31% | PARAPHRASES | 11 | Puts in other words, or, if read as three pieces, a hint to the starred answers |
| 30% | SHAKENBAKE | 10 | Breadcrumb coating brand ... or, as two words, what is found in the answers to starred clues |
| 30% | HUEANDCRY | 9 | Public uproar … or a phonetic hint to the two words in 17-, 28- and 48-Across? |
| 30% | AUTOMATES | 9 | Streamlines, as a factory ... or, when read as two words, what the beginnings of the answers to starred clues are |
| 30% | FIREANDRAIN | 11 | James Taylor classic ... or, respectively, what can precede the two words in each answer to a starred clue |
| 30% | ASTARISBORN | 11 | Thrice-remade movie … or, when parsed as six words, a hint to the theme clues in this puzzle |
| 30% | SHIPSHAPE | 9 | In perfect order ... or, as two words, what's formed by applying the answers for the five starred clues to the circled letters |
| 30% | DOUBLEBOOK | 10 | Reserve twice in error, as an airline seat ... or a hint to the two-part answers to starred clues |
| 29% | CHEERS | 6 | Rallying words from fans in the stands, or a cry to mark the New Year's tradition of raising glasses |
| 29% | STARRED | 7 | To have appeared as the lead in a movie or play |
| 28% | ALONGSIDE | 9 | Next to a ship or the pier, as in docking |
| 28% | GETAJOB | 7 | Words after "She throws the want ads right my way and never fails to say," in a doo-wop classic (3 wds.) |
| 28% | AMEND | 5 | Modify, as the Constitution... or a word that ends in "end" |
| 28% | AFFIX | 5 | Add-on to the start or end of a word stem (as in 17-, 25-, 35-, 49- and 57-Across) |
| 28% | TESTSFOR | 8 | Tries to detect, as a substance in the body |
| 28% | LEASALONGA | 10 | As Kim in “Miss Saigon,” she became the first Asian woman to win a Tony |
| 27% | RELOCATIONS | 11 | Changes made to the answers to 16-, 24-, 33- and 47-Across, whether interpreted as one word or two? |
| 27% | NOWYOUSEEITNOWYOUDONT | 21 | Magic words … or a hint to the other long answers in this puzzle |
| 27% | BACKSTORY | 9 | Fictional past, or a hint to four-letter words found in the starred answers |
| 27% | CORNERSTORE | 11 | Local convenience ... or a hint to the words in the circled squares |
| 27% | EDIT | 4 | Put in a word or two, maybe more? |
| 26% | FOOLAROUND | 10 | Engage in some horseplay ... or a hint to the words spelled out in the circles |
| 26% | SLAG | 4 | Something left over from the Bessemer process that could be used in fertilizer or as a cement additive |
| 26% | HAHA | 4 | Wall or fence set in a ditch so as not to interrupt the landscape |
| 26% | PORTAMENTO | 10 | In music, a sliding movement from one note to another, especially in singing or playing the violin |
| 26% | HIDDENGEM | 9 | Masterpiece waiting to be found ... or a hint to the words in the circled letters |
| 26% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 26% | KNEEDEEP | 8 | Coming only a foot or two up the leg (2 words) |