| 100% | SPLITENDS | 9 | Hair challenge … or a hint to the last words of 17-, 25-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 66% | NOTMYFIRSTRODEO | 15 | "Done this before, you know!" ... or a hint to the last words of 17-, 23-, 31-, 40- and 48-Across |
| 65% | FIGUREHEAD | 10 | Carved decoration on a ship's prow ... or a hint to the first word of 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across |
| 64% | OTANNENBAUM | 11 | Seasonal song with a hint to the last words in 17-, 25-, 37- and 45-Across |
| 64% | WHATSTHEBIGDEAL | 15 | "Why so worried?" (and a hint to the last words of 17-, 24-, 51- and 64-Across) |
| 63% | SCRAMBLEDEGGS | 13 | Breakfast order ... and a hint to the last words of 17-, 26-, 51- and 58-Across |
| 62% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 61% | ITMEANSALOTTOME | 15 | "I'm deeply indebted" ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 25-, 51- and 64-Across |
| 58% | PLAYINGWITHFIRE | 15 | Doing something risky ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 24-, 49- and 58-Across |
| 58% | SAUSAGELINK | 11 | Breakfast side order ... or a hint to the last words of 18-, 23-, 34- and 49-Across |
| 57% | JOBOPENING | 10 | Want ad heading ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 56% | FRENCHTWIST | 11 | Classic hairstyle ... or a hint to the puns in 17-, 25-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 56% | ATHLETICCUP | 11 | Protective sportswear ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 24-, 36- and 51-Across |
| 56% | PIECEOFCAKE | 11 | Easy-peasy ... or a hint to the start of 17-, 24-, 36- and 51-Across |
| 56% | WHATARACKET | 11 | "Boy, is that loud!" ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 25-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 55% | HOLDIT | 6 | "Stop right there!" … or a hint to the first words of 17-, 23-, 47- and 59-Across |
| 55% | MOCKTAIL | 8 | Nonalcoholic mixed drink … or a hint to the synonyms found at the ends of 16-, 24-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 54% | FIVEIRONS | 9 | Fairway clubs ... or a hint to the starts of the answers to 17-, 24- and 45-Across and 10- and 37-Down |
| 54% | SODAMIXER | 9 | Ingredient in some cocktails ... or a hint to the last words in 17-, 23-, 32-, 43- and 48-Across |
| 53% | THATWASCOOL | 11 | "Neato!" (and a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 35- and 51-Across) |
| 53% | AGEDIFFERENCE | 13 | 83, for the creators of this puzzle ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 25-, 51- and 60-Across |
| 53% | THEPLOTTHICKENS | 15 | "Now things are getting interesting" ... or a hint to the first words of 17-, 24-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 52% | CRYUNCLE | 8 | Concede ... or a hint to the last words of the answers to starred clues |
| 52% | GETPLAYED | 9 | Fall for it, or what can happen to the last words of 17-, 25-, 38- and 56-Across |
| 51% | COUNTERFEITCOIN | 15 | Slug, or a hint to the starts of 17-, 28- and 46-Across |
| 51% | WESTERNMEDICINE | 15 | Allopathy ... or a hint to the beginnings of 16-, 25-, and 47-Across |
| 51% | MAKEUP | 6 | Reconcile after a quarrel … or a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 52- and 61-Across |
| 51% | PIDAY | 5 | Mid-March celebration ... or a hint to the starts of 18-, 25-, 44- and 57-Across |
| 51% | MONEYMONEYMONEY | 15 | 1976 Abba song ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 50-Across |
| 51% | RENTACARS | 9 | Some vacation expenses ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 54-Across |