| 100% | LANGUAGEBARRIER | 15 | Foreigner's obstacle ... or a hint to hidden words in 17-, 29-, 37- and 49-Across |
| 55% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 51% | RELIGIOUSLEADER | 15 | Minister or imam, say ... and, in two ways, a hint to words hidden in 17-, 29- and 38-Across |
| 49% | CODESWITCHING | 13 | Speaking Spanglish, say ... or a hint to what's hidden in 20-, 28- and 48-Across |
| 48% | ZIP | 3 | Nothing ... or a hint to what's hidden in 20-, 35- and 52-Across |
| 48% | OTANNENBAUM | 11 | Seasonal song with a hint to the last words in 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across |
| 48% | SPLITENDS | 9 | Hair challenge … or a hint to the last words of 17-, 25-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 47% | PARTWO | 6 | Common miniature golf goal ... or a hint to what's found in 17-, 39- and 60-Across |
| 47% | MIXEDGREENSALAD | 15 | Dieter's fare ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 49- and 62-Across and 10- and 26-Down |
| 46% | HEADSTARTS | 10 | Race advantages ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 46% | ATTACHE | 7 | Embassy staffer ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 49- and 59-Across? |
| 46% | REVERSEENGINEER | 15 | Take apart in order to reproduce ... or a hint to what's hidden in 17-, 23-, 34- and 46-Across |
| 46% | FIGUREHEAD | 10 | Carved decoration on a ship's prow ... or a hint to the first word of 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across |
| 46% | REARENDED | 9 | Bumped from behind, or a hint to 17-, 25-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 46% | METALBAND | 9 | Wedding ring, for example ... or a hint to 20-, 29-, and 49-Across? |
| 46% | TECHBOOMS | 9 | Big times in Silicon Valley … or a hint to 17-, 25-, 35- and 49-Across? |
| 46% | APPENDAGE | 9 | Wing, e.g. ... or a hint to answering 17-, 23-, 49- and 56-Across |
| 46% | PUTONASHOW | 10 | Go over the top, or a hint to 17-, 23-, 37-, and 48-Across |
| 45% | THINKONONESFEET | 15 | Make spot decisions in a crisis ... or a hint to 17-, 29-, 34-, and 42-Across? |
| 45% | COLDOPEN | 8 | Start of each "S.N.L." episode ... or a hint to the initials of the words in 17-, 24-, 35- and 47-Across |
| 45% | SODAMIXER | 9 | Ingredient in some cocktails ... or a hint to the last words in 17-, 23-, 32-, 43- and 48-Across |
| 45% | PLAYINGWITHFIRE | 15 | Doing something risky ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 24-, 49- and 58-Across |
| 45% | SAUSAGELINK | 11 | Breakfast side order ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 23-, 34- and 49-Across |
| 45% | MIDDLECLASS | 11 | Average income group, and a hint to hidden words in 18-, 24-, 40- and 52-Across |
| 45% | HOLDIT | 6 | "Stop right there!" … or a hint to the first words of 17-, 23-, 47- and 59-Across |
| 45% | INNERNERD | 9 | The secret geeky part of you ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 32-, 42- and 49-Across |
| 45% | ITSABREEZE | 10 | "Piece of cake!" (and a hint to the ends of 17-, 24-, 37- and 49-Across) |
| 44% | DOUBLENEGATIVES | 15 | Statements that can be seen as positive ... or a hint to interpreting 17-, 26-, 49- and 62-Across |
| 44% | REPEATAFTERME | 13 | Swearing-in words … or a hint to 17-, 22-, 48- and 55-Across |
| 44% | SPLIT | 5 | With 51-Across, nitpick ... or a hint to 17-, 37- and 60-Across |