| 100% | TELL | 4 | Live to ___ the tale (survive a close call) |
| 47% | SURVIVOR | 8 | Person who lives to tell the tale after accident |
| 47% | HALT | 4 | Call a ___ to (Stop the progress of) |
| 46% | SURVIVES | 8 | Gets out of danger and lives to tell the tale |
| 46% | SIGN | 4 | Use a closed fist to represent the letter S, say |
| 46% | RINGSIDE | 8 | Close to the action, at a boxing match |
| 46% | GEPPETTO | 8 | The closest thing Pinocchio has to a father |
| 45% | POLECAT | 7 | Dark brown mammal related to the weasel also called a foumart |
| 45% | FALLEQUINOX | 11 | A harvest moon is the full moon closest to it |
| 45% | MACADAMIA | 9 | A nut native to Australia also called the bush nut |
| 44% | MARKING | 7 | Staying close to a player on the opposing team |
| 43% | MUM | 3 | Close-mouthed, or change a letter in 27d to get the answer |
| 43% | LINEONE | 7 | What the first call to a receptionist might come in on |
| 42% | GIRLSWHOCODE | 12 | Nonprofit with a mission to close the tech industry’s gender gap |
| 42% | CSPAN | 5 | First network to broadcast a live session of the House of Representatives |
| 42% | MINARET | 7 | Part of a mosque from which the call to prayer is made |
| 42% | BITTERN | 7 | Wading bird similar to the heron with a booming call |
| 42% | NARROW | 6 | This type of escape is a close call |
| 42% | BROW | 4 | It may get wiped after a close call |
| 42% | BOO | 3 | Response to a bad call by the umpire |
| 41% | UPON | 4 | Pick the words to start your fairy tale! (1/3) "Once ___ a time..." |
| 41% | UCLA | 4 | Sch. where a live bear used to take the field during football games |
| 41% | HOMEEC | 6 | It was originally meant to be called “oekology,” the science of right living |
| 41% | COWPEA | 6 | Leguminous plant native to the Old World tropics whose edible seed is also called a black-eyed pea |
| 41% | HEDGEHOP | 8 | Fly a plane close to the ground |
| 41% | WHEW | 4 | Cry after a close call |
| 41% | WHEW | 4 | Exclamation after a close call |
| 41% | WHEW | 4 | "That was a close call!" |
| 41% | NEAR | 4 | With "miss", a close call |
| 41% | WAS | 3 | "Phew, that ___ a close call!" |