| 100% | CUTE | 4 | Reply to a bit of cleverness |
| 60% | IFEAR | 5 | Start to a bit of bad news |
| 59% | IFEAR | 5 | Lead-in to a bit of bad news |
| 59% | ALAS | 4 | Lead-in to a bit of sad news |
| 58% | TINTS | 5 | Adds a bit of color to |
| 58% | MOISTEN | 7 | Add a bit of liquid to |
| 58% | TINT | 4 | Add a bit of color to |
| 56% | DENT | 4 | Bit of damage to a fender |
| 55% | DENT | 4 | Bit of damage to a car bumper |
| 55% | ION | 3 | What's a bit of a shock to a chemist? |
| 54% | AIT | 3 | Bit of land in a river, to a Brit |
| 53% | IMIN | 4 | "___ a bit of a hurry": (When you have to leave quickly) 2 wds |
| 53% | LIFELINE | 8 | Bit of help on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" |
| 53% | DONGLE | 6 | Bit of computer hardware that connects to a USB port |
| 52% | SCRAP | 5 | Bit of food that might be tossed to a pet dog |
| 52% | JUSTBROWSING | 12 | Reply to a salesperson ... or a hint to the start of 19-, 25- and 43-Across |
| 51% | ITRY | 4 | Reply that's a bit of a humblebrag |
| 51% | TINDER | 6 | Tiny bits of dry materials used to start a fire |
| 50% | TUBA | 4 | Objection to return a bit of brass |
| 50% | STEP | 4 | Bit of a how-to |
| 50% | DEWDROP | 7 | Bit of morning moisture, and a hint to 3-, 8-, 30- and 34-Down |
| 50% | TIE | 3 | Bit of attire you might learn how to put on while using a mirror |
| 50% | IFIWEREYOU | 10 | Lead-in to a bit of advice, and a hint as to how 17-, 24-, 37- and 45-Across might arise |
| 50% | FOOTBALLMATCHUP | 15 | Bit of Sunday TV scheduling ... or a hint to 17-, 25-, 50- and 59-Across |
| 49% | LAUGHINGOUTLOUD | 15 | Bit of textspeak, unshortened ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 27- and 49-Across |
| 49% | POPUPAD | 7 | Bit of Web clutter, and a hint to making sense of four answers in this puzzle |
| 49% | BULLET | 6 | Bit of ammo that one might want to "dodge" and has a "bull" in its name |
| 49% | MOT | 3 | Bit of cleverness |
| 49% | NEATIDEA | 8 | Bit of cleverness |
| 49% | NEATTRICK | 9 | Bit of cleverness |