| 100% | MIDDLEAGE | 9 | Crisis time, for some ... or a hint to each of the circled words |
| 56% | DISMISSAL | 9 | Favorite time of the school day for some teachers and students, or a two-word hint for the answers to the starred clues |
| 53% | LETSCALLITADAY | 14 | "I think we're done here" … or a hint to translating each of the four shaded words in this puzzle |
| 53% | BOXINGDAY | 9 | Present time in England? ... or a hint to each set of circled squares |
| 52% | MADSCRAMBLE | 11 | Frantic rush, or a hint to each set of circles |
| 51% | BOXCARS | 7 | Freight train components ... or a hint to each group of circled letters |
| 50% | GANGOFFOUR | 10 | Faction in China's Cultural Revolution ... or a hint to each set of circled letters |
| 50% | FOOLAROUND | 10 | Engage in some horseplay ... or a hint to the words spelled out in the circles |
| 50% | INNER | 5 | Private ... or a hint to the words spelled by the circled letters |
| 50% | CORNERSTORE | 11 | Local convenience ... or a hint to the words in the circled squares |
| 49% | CHANGEDONESMIND | 15 | Decided otherwise ... or a hint to the four sets of circled letters |
| 49% | ALLABOARD | 9 | Train conductor's cry … or a hint to each word in the answers to the starred clues |
| 49% | PARTYDOWN | 9 | Really revel ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 49% | JUSTHAVINGABALL | 15 | Living it up ... or a hint to the six groups of circled letters |
| 49% | SPREADTHEWEALTH | 15 | Redistributionist's catchphrase ... or a hint to the words formed by the circled letters |
| 49% | CRYUNCLE | 8 | Concede ... or a hint to the last words of the answers to starred clues |
| 48% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 48% | CONFUSION | 9 | Puzzlement ... or a hint to getting the 10 words on the perimeter of this puzzle |
| 48% | SPLITENDS | 9 | Hair challenge … or a hint to the last words of 17-, 25-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 48% | PLAYINGWITHFIRE | 15 | Doing something risky ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 24-, 49- and 58-Across |
| 48% | SAUSAGELINK | 11 | Breakfast side order ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 23-, 34- and 49-Across |
| 48% | HOLDIT | 6 | "Stop right there!" … or a hint to the first words of 17-, 23-, 47- and 59-Across |
| 47% | MILKSHAKES | 10 | Diner treats ... or a hint to what's happening to the words in the circled squares in this puzzle? |
| 47% | THEPLOTTHICKENS | 15 | "Now things are getting interesting" ... or a hint to the first words of 17-, 24-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 46% | NOTMYFIRSTRODEO | 15 | "Done this before, you know!" ... or a hint to the last words of 17-, 23-, 31-, 40- and 48-Across |
| 46% | FRIENDSTOTHEEND | 15 | True buds, and a hint to the last three or four letters of each starred answer |
| 46% | TOPBANANA | 9 | Head honcho, and a hint to the first word of 3-, 8-, 21-, or 24-Down |
| 46% | IMONAROLL | 9 | "Things could not be going better for me!" ... or a hint to the placement of the circled letters |
| 45% | SKIPPING | 8 | With 59-Across, lakeside activity ... or a hint to the words spelled across the fifth, eighth and 11th rows of the completed grid |
| 45% | SIXPACKOFBEER | 13 | Party purchase ... or a hint to each circled letter set |