| 100% | BBQ | 3 | Summer event, briefly ... or a phonetic hint to 19-, 26-, 47- and 53-Across |
| 53% | ESSAY | 5 | Kind of test ... or a phonetic hint to 17-, 25-, 36-, 47- and 57-Across |
| 52% | DOUBLEHEADERS | 13 | Baseball rarities nowadays ... or a phonetic hint to the starts of 17-, 26-, 48- and 57-Across |
| 52% | ARTOODETOO | 10 | "Star Wars" droid ... or a phonetic hint to what's found in 17-, 26-, 41- and 52-Across |
| 51% | TEASEAPART | 10 | Carefully distinguish ... or a phonetic hint to the first and last letters of 17-, 26-, 48-, and 61-Across |
| 51% | ITSNOTYOUITSME | 14 | Classic breakup excuse … or a phonetic hint to 23-, 36-, 47-, 67-, 86- and 93-Across |
| 50% | ELLEWOODS | 9 | "Legally Blonde" protagonist... or a phonetic hint to 12 Across and 17 Across |
| 49% | WITHINCOST | 10 | Reasonably priced ... or a hint to 17-, 19-, 26-, 34-, 42- and 51-Across |
| 49% | DOH | 3 | Cry from Homer … or a phonetic hint to the ends of 18-, 27-, 48- and 62- Across |
| 48% | BREAKIN | 7 | Burglary ... or a hint to 17/18-, 26/29-, 47/51- and 62/63-Across |
| 47% | NOEL | 4 | Seasonal song ... or a phonetic hint to 18-, 23-, 37-, 52- and 59-Across |
| 47% | STICKWITHIT | 11 | Persevere, or a hint to the ends of the answers to 17-, 26-, 53-, and 62-Across |
| 47% | HOLYTRINITY | 11 | Central Christian belief … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 27- and 44-Across |
| 47% | THEPRICEISRIGHT | 15 | Classic game show … or a hint to 17-, 26- and 47-Across |
| 47% | PAIROFJOKERS | 12 | Cards #53 and #54 in a deck ... or a hint to the answers to 19-, 26-, 35- and 47-Across |
| 46% | ZHUZHUP | 7 | Fancify … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 23-, 50- and 62-Across |
| 46% | HEAD | 4 | With 37-Across, hair accessory ... or a literal hint to 19-, 27-, 47- and 56-Across |
| 46% | HUEANDCRY | 9 | Public uproar … or a phonetic hint to the two words in 17-, 28- and 48-Across? |
| 44% | AREYOUOKAY | 10 | Query of concern … or a phonetic hint to two pairs of letters appearing in 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 44% | MIDSIZE | 7 | Neither large nor small ... or a phonetic hint to 17-, 30-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 44% | IFIWEREYOU | 10 | Start of some advice … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 43% | HEADSTARTS | 10 | Advantages, or a hint to 18-, 27- and 47-Across |
| 43% | HEARTOFSTONE | 12 | Unfeeling nature ... or a literal hint to 19-, 31- and 38-Across |
| 43% | FALLINGBEHIND | 13 | Lagging ... or a hint to 17-, 19-, 56- and 61-Across |
| 43% | PARFORTHECOURSE | 15 | Average ... or a literal hint to 17-, 26- and 42-Across |
| 42% | THEEND | 6 | With 39-Across, doomsayer's assertion ... or a phonetic hint to 18-, 24-, 51- and 61-Across |
| 42% | TOOCLEVERBYHALF | 15 | Overly inventive ... or a hint to the answers to 17-, 26- and 42-Across |
| 42% | COLORCOMMENTARY | 15 | Broadcast booth analysis … or a hint to 17-, 27- and 47-Across |
| 42% | INSIDEDOPE | 10 | Lowdown ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 53-Across |
| 42% | MIDDLE | 6 | With 44-Down, educational stage ... or a hint to the contents of 18-, 22-, 47- and 53-Across |