| 100% | THEBIGCHILI | 11 | Friends gather for a funeral ... AND COOK UP AN ENORMOUS STEW! |
| 32% | REDHOTCOALS | 11 | Challenge for a fire-walker … and an anagram of 25-Down |
| 32% | NNW | 3 | Up and a little to the left, for short |
| 32% | HERBS | 5 | A plant dried and used for medicines or cooking |
| 31% | EAR | 3 | Locale for an anvil and a hammer |
| 31% | WRAPPING | 8 | Layering and __ up warm for an autumn walk |
| 31% | EDGE | 4 | "The Cutting ___," 1992 sports rom-com about an ice hockey player and a figure skater who are forced to team up for the 1992 Winter Olympics |
| 31% | HERES | 5 | "__ a bottle and an honest friend!" |
| 31% | CREW | 4 | The Drew ___ (nickname for a teen sleuth and her friends on The CW) |
| 31% | PITCHATENT | 10 | Prepare for a night out, and an explanation of this puzzle's theme |
| 31% | TUREEN | 6 | Huge serving bowl for dishing up soups and stews |
| 30% | BRAVE | 5 | Adjective for a lion-hearted person that is an antonym and alliteration for "bashful" |
| 30% | PETA | 4 | Group that stands up for furry and feathered friends: Abbr. |
| 30% | DOWNPAYMENT | 11 | Money up front, and an alternate title for this puzzle |
| 30% | TRUSSED | 7 | Tied up a fowl's legs and wings before cooking |
| 30% | SALON | 5 | "Curl Up and Dye" is a punny name for one |
| 30% | ARM | 3 | "It'll cost us an ___ and a leg for this." |
| 30% | RETIREMENT | 10 | Occasion for an office party and a gold watch, perhaps |
| 30% | AMASS | 5 | Gather for a collection |
| 30% | AMASS | 5 | Gather for a while |
| 30% | MEET | 4 | Gather for a conference |
| 30% | CONVENED | 8 | Gathered for a meeting |
| 30% | CONVENING | 9 | Gathering for a meeting |
| 30% | ETA | 3 | Info for someone picking up a friend from the airport: Abbr. |
| 30% | GOSSETT | 7 | Louis ___ Jr. (1983 Oscar winner for An Officer and a Gentleman) |
| 30% | PASSTHETIME | 11 | Kill a few hours, and an apt title for this puzzle? |
| 29% | STAGE | 5 | Decorate and furnish for viewing, as a property for an open house |
| 29% | KAONS | 5 | Particles consisting of a strange quark and an up or down antiquark |
| 29% | LETSSEESOMEID | 13 | Demand from a suspicious bartender, and an apt title for this puzzle |
| 29% | DOWNSHIFTING | 12 | Changing to a lower gear, and an alternate title for this puzzle |