| 100% | HUE | 3 | This and 32-Down are a big fuss |
| 51% | KEEPITPG | 8 | "Tone down that PDA, there are kids around," and a hint to five answers in this puzzle |
| 51% | RABBITS | 7 | Watership Down is a film about these animals |
| 50% | KEEPITBETWEENUS | 15 | "Let this be our little secret" … or a hint to letter sequences hidden in 16-, 32- and 40-Across |
| 50% | TENT | 4 | A big flap may be made about this |
| 48% | BEACHBUM | 8 | Person who is a big fan of sun and sand (2 wds.) |
| 48% | ADO | 3 | Big fuss that is about nothing, according to a saying |
| 48% | OUNCE | 5 | A jigger is bigger than this |
| 48% | SAMIAM | 6 | Seussian character who is a big fan of green eggs and ham (Hyph.) |
| 48% | BEACHBUM | 8 | Person who is a big fan of surf, sun, and sand (2 wds.) |
| 48% | MEXICO | 6 | Oaxaca is a city and state in this country |
| 47% | CANYONS | 7 | Biggest of these are Grand and Fish River |
| 46% | ACROSS | 6 | Crossword clues can be down and this |
| 45% | LIFECHANGING | 12 | Influential in a big way ... and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| 45% | GOLDEN | 6 | These girls "traveled down a road and back again" |
| 45% | DALES | 5 | Ups and downs are hills and these |
| 44% | WOE | 3 | "For never was a story of more ___ than this of Juliet and her Romeo" |
| 44% | TURNIP | 6 | A rutabaga is a cross between a cabbage and this |
| 44% | TANGERINE | 9 | A tangelo is a mix between this and a pomelo |
| 44% | MAGNA | 5 | With "cum" and 32-Down, a diploma phrase |
| 44% | PARALLELPARKS | 13 | What 1-, 5-, 10-, 32-, 43- and 53-Down are, in a manner of speaking |
| 44% | MAYONNAISE | 10 | Fritessaus, which the Dutch eat with fries, is a slimmed down version of this dressing |
| 44% | KALE | 4 | Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made primarily of mashed potatoes and this green vegetable |
| 43% | GOESFAR | 7 | Is a big success |
| 43% | GOFAR | 5 | Be a big success |
| 43% | LEAVING | 7 | Peter, Paul and Mary are doing this on a jet plane |
| 43% | HICCUPS | 7 | Drinking upside-down is a common cure for this |
| 43% | SILK | 4 | China is a great place to buy some of this soft and luxurious fabric (3/4) |
| 43% | LIESHEAVY | 9 | Is a big burden (on) |
| 43% | MANUP | 5 | Be a big boy, slangily |