| 100% | MIDDLEEARTH | 11 | Tolkien’s imaginary world (that hints at this puzzle’s theme) |
| 59% | ADDAPINCHOFSALT | 15 | Cooking instruction hinting at this puzzle's theme? |
| 59% | ISAWESAUHESAWME | 15 | Tongue-twister phrase hinting at this puzzle's theme |
| 57% | IVEBEENAMINERFORA | 17 | With 113-Across, 1972 song lyric hinting at this puzzle's theme |
| 56% | ABE | 3 | Lincoln who gave the "House Divided Speech," which hints at this puzzle's theme |
| 56% | BAKERSDOZEN | 11 | It's a bit more than it sounds, and hints at this puzzle's theme |
| 55% | FOURH | 5 | Kind of club that's a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 54% | NOWISE | 6 | Without any chance at all (and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| 54% | DRINKSALLAROUND | 15 | "I'm buying!," at a bar ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 54% | WINWINSITUATION | 15 | Scenario that works out for everyone... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 54% | GROSS | 5 | "That's repulsive!" ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 54% | 4WARDINGADDRESS | 15 | Something to leave at the post office ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme? |
| 54% | WHEREARTTHOU | 12 | Question that follows "O Brother" in film ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 54% | SECRETMENU | 10 | Food only found by those who know, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 53% | VENUSDEMILO | 11 | Masterpiece discovered in 1820 with a feature that's a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 53% | SALTSHAKER | 10 | One of a pair at the dinner table ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 53% | GENDER | 6 | With 43-Across, something that escapes certain categories, and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 53% | DAYHIKE | 7 | Walking trip that may last from morning till evening ... and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 52% | PARISFRANCE | 11 | World capital that's the theme of this puzzle |
| 52% | BRAD | 4 | With 59-Down, star of the work revealed by the first letters of the Across clues, which hint at this puzzle's theme |
| 52% | LITTLEEVA | 9 | Singer with a 1962 #1 hit that started a dance craze (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| 51% | HOUSEOFCARDS | 12 | Hit Netflix show that hints at the theme hidden in the puzzle's borders |
| 50% | DOUBLEPLAY | 10 | Hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 50% | DEERXING | 8 | Road sign that hints at what can be found three times in this puzzle's grid |
| 49% | H&RBLOCK | 8 | Subject of the Final Jeopardy! question that knocked out Ken Jennings after a record 74 wins ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 49% | BIGGIRLSDONTCRY | 15 | 1962 #1 hit by the group hinted at in this puzzle's theme |
| 49% | ERIN | 4 | Girl's name (or a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| 49% | TSQUARE | 7 | Draftsman's tool (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| 49% | DEADCENTER | 10 | Bull's-eye ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 49% | MARGINALIA | 10 | Reader's jottings ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |