| 100% | ELUDE | 5 | The murderer managed to ___ police for years (avoid or dodge) |
| 41% | ELUDEPRELUDE | 12 | Manage to avoid the introductory music? |
| 37% | NORM | 4 | To be expected, or par for the course |
| 37% | MEALTIME | 8 | The moment to sit down for dinner or tea |
| 37% | LAM | 3 | On the ___ (trying to avoid the police) |
| 36% | ALDENTE | 7 | "To the tooth" or firm to the bite for pasta |
| 36% | RING | 4 | Jewelry for the finger or to "call up" someone |
| 35% | PREP | 4 | To get ready or lay the groundwork for something, for short. Abbr |
| 35% | UFO | 3 | Reason for a flood of calls to the police dept., maybe |
| 35% | TEAMMATE | 8 | Derek Jeter, to Mariano Rivera, for 19 years with the Yankees |
| 34% | ASTHEWORLDTURNS | 15 | TV soap for 54 years ... and a hint to the puzzle circles |
| 34% | DEC | 3 | First month after fall or last month of the year, for short |
| 34% | DIF | 3 | "Not the same," for short (also, a starting to "-fuse" or "-ference") |
| 34% | SHOES | 5 | High heels or spikes you'd take to the cobbler for repairs |
| 34% | ZEUS | 4 | For whom "it is not possible either to trick or escape the mind," per Hesiod |
| 33% | COAL | 4 | Traditional Scottish New Year's gift, representing warmth for the year to come |
| 33% | POCKETS | 7 | Keeps for oneself ... or features of the answers to all the starred clues |
| 33% | TRITE | 5 | Banal, or a three-part hint for the answers to the starred clues |
| 33% | MIDDLEAGE | 9 | Crisis time, for some ... or a hint to each of the circled words |
| 33% | GRAVEYARDSHIFT | 14 | Late night for a working stiff ... or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 33% | TEEN | 4 | Person who might be able to vote or drive for the first time |
| 33% | BUMPERCROPS | 11 | Bountiful harvests for farmers … or another hint to the crossings of shaded squares |
| 33% | WAIT | 4 | "Step 4: Grab a burger or magazine and ___ for the boarding to start!" |
| 33% | GROWINGPAINS | 12 | Early struggles for a new enterprise … or a hint to the shaded squares |
| 33% | NSYNC | 5 | Loser to U2 for Grammy Record of the Year in 2001 |
| 33% | DONTTAKETHEBAIT | 15 | Warning for easily provoked types ... or for the answers to the six starred clues? |
| 33% | RAFTERS | 7 | Ceiling beams, or a three-word hint for the answers to the starred clues |
| 33% | EVADED | 6 | Managed to dodge |
| 33% | DODGED | 6 | Managed to avoid |
| 33% | ELUDED | 6 | Managed to avoid |