| 100% | POND | 4 | The Atlantic, in a common phrase |
| 60% | BICOASTAL | 9 | Living not just near the Atlantic, in a way |
| 60% | ALII | 4 | Word that's usually abbreviated in a common Latin phrase |
| 58% | DYE | 3 | Eosin is a common one in the lab |
| 57% | SIMILES | 7 | Phrases with "as a" in the middle |
| 55% | OPERASINGER | 11 | The "fat lady" in a phrase |
| 54% | SEALION | 7 | A seal with ears and a mane, common in the Pacific |
| 53% | BOARD | 5 | "Across the ___," common phrase meaning "affecting everything and everyone in a particular group," that has its origins in horse racing |
| 53% | WALKER | 6 | Most common name for a zombie in the Walking Dead |
| 53% | TIE | 3 | Either blank in the common internet search "how to ___ a ___" |
| 52% | PARTYINTHEBACK | 14 | Mullet's defining feature, in a common saying ... or, literally, what the answers to the starred clues have in common? |
| 52% | BUTTERFLIES | 11 | "___ in the stomach," phrase for nervousness with a "fluttery" insect in it |
| 51% | PAGE | 4 | "Tomorrow is the first ___ in a book of 365" (common New Year's phrase) |
| 51% | DETAIL | 6 | "Attention to ___," complete the phrase with a word that ends in "ail" |
| 50% | DOWNWARDDOG | 11 | Common yoga pose ... and a hint to hidden names in the answers to starred clues |
| 50% | FOX | 3 | "___ in the henhouse," phrase for an untrustworthy person with a "sly" animal in it |
| 50% | SNAKE | 5 | "___ in the grass," phrase for an unfaithful friend with a hissing reptile in it |
| 49% | COG | 3 | ___ in the machine, phrase associated with machines that means "small part of a large organization" |
| 49% | NECK | 4 | Word used on both sides of "and" to make a common phrase meaning "a close contest," that has its origins in horse racing |
| 49% | RALLY | 5 | Join in a common cause |
| 49% | DRAWTOGETHER | 12 | Unite in a common cause |
| 49% | TEAR | 4 | Apostrophe in a common emoji |
| 49% | SOL | 3 | Top note in a common triad |
| 49% | DOORNAIL | 8 | Carpentry item in a common simile |
| 49% | PECAN | 5 | Nut in a common Thanksgiving pie |
| 49% | RACE | 4 | Change a word in this phrase to correct it! "Slow and steady wins the contest" |
| 49% | SPEAKER | 7 | Presiding officer in the House of Commons; a post currently held by Sir Lindsay Hoyle |
| 48% | IPSA | 4 | "Itself," in a phrase |
| 48% | HOME | 4 | "___ stretch," common phrase used to refer to the final part of an activity, that has its origins in horse racing |