| 100% | LAGASSE | 7 | Chef with the catchphrase "Kick it up a notch" |
| 67% | EMERIL | 6 | Chef who likes to kick it up a notch |
| 62% | LAGASSE | 7 | “Kick it up a notch!” chef |
| 61% | EMERIL | 6 | "Kick it up a notch" TV chef |
| 61% | EMERIL | 6 | "Kick it up a notch!" chef Lagasse |
| 61% | LAGASSE | 7 | "Kick it up a notch!" chef Emeril |
| 57% | EMERILLAGASSE | 13 | "Kick it up a notch" celebrity chef who turns 60 in 2019 (2 wds.) |
| 56% | EMERILLAGASSE | 13 | "Kick it up a notch!" chef who won an Emmy for Outstanding Culinary Program (2 wds.) |
| 56% | EMERIL | 6 | Chef known to "kick it up a notch" |
| 51% | BAM | 3 | Emeril's alternative to "Kick it up a notch" |
| 50% | BAM | 3 | Emeril's "Kick it up a notch" exclamation |
| 49% | NOTCH | 5 | "Kick it up a ___" (Emeril Lagasse catchphrase) |
| 45% | NOTCH | 5 | Kick it up a ___ (make things more exciting) |
| 45% | EMERIL | 6 | TV chef with the catchphrase "Bam!" |
| 43% | ELEVATE | 7 | Kick up a notch |
| 42% | TANG | 4 | Brand with the onetime slogan “It’s a kick in a glass!” |
| 41% | GETCRUNK | 8 | Take it up a few notches, in hip-hop |
| 41% | MAKE | 4 | Kick it through the uprights, in a way |
| 39% | BARNEYSTINSON | 13 | "How I Met Your Mother" character with the catchphrase "Suit up!": 2 wds. |
| 39% | THINKIMINLOVE | 13 | 1982 Top 20 hit by 43-Across with the lyrics "Oh, something's got a hold of me now / It's a feeling, burnin' up ... " (4 wds.) |
| 39% | RADAR | 5 | It picks up things with a dish |
| 39% | BRA | 3 | It's held up with a hook |
| 39% | QUESTIONMARK | 12 | It shares a key with the slash |
| 39% | TOED | 4 | Kicked with a finger on the foot |
| 38% | SEENOEVIL | 9 | Catchphrase for a monkey with its eyes covered |
| 38% | THECARS | 7 | Rock group with the hit "Shake it Up" |
| 38% | STOP | 4 | It’s sometimes said with a hand up |
| 38% | ONE | 3 | It shares a key with the exclamation point |
| 38% | ONESKI | 6 | A daredevil may hit the slopes with it |
| 38% | ADIEU | 5 | It comes with a parting of the ways |