| 100% | TRIPLEOVERTIME | 14 | Uncommon period in basketball ... or a hint to 19- and 37-Across and 4- and 48-Down |
| 51% | ISEE | 4 | "Aha!" ... or a hint to 18-, 23-, 37-, 48- and 58-Across |
| 50% | SORRYNORETURNS | 14 | Sign in some clothing stores ... or a hint to 19-, 25- and 44-Across |
| 50% | REARENDED | 9 | Bumped from behind, or a hint to 17-, 25-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 50% | AREYOUOKAY | 10 | Query of concern … or a phonetic hint to two pairs of letters appearing in 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 50% | CODESWITCHING | 13 | Speaking Spanglish, say ... or a hint to what's hidden in 20-, 28- and 48-Across |
| 50% | MATCHINGPJS | 11 | Some Xmas card attire ... or a hint to 18-, 23-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 50% | PUTONASHOW | 10 | Go over the top, or a hint to 17-, 23-, 37-, and 48-Across |
| 49% | THEDOCTORISOUT | 14 | Lucy's empty-booth sign in "Peanuts" ... or a hint to 16-, 24-, 37- and 55-Across |
| 49% | LANGUAGEBARRIER | 15 | Foreigner's obstacle ... or a hint to hidden words in 17-, 29-, 37- and 49-Across |
| 48% | TECHSTARTUP | 11 | Many a new venture in Silicon Valley … or a hint to 17-, 26-, 37- and 52-Across |
| 48% | THEBIGAPPLE | 11 | Empire State Building locale ... or a hint to three letters in 16-, 19-, 52- and 57-Across |
| 48% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | Earlier ... or a hint to the words circled in 17-, 21-, 37- and 51-Across |
| 48% | TRIGGER | 7 | With 25-Down, caution before a potentially upsetting lecture ... or a hint to 19- and 59-Across and 7-Down? |
| 47% | PAIROFJOKERS | 12 | Cards #53 and #54 in a deck ... or a hint to the answers to 19-, 26-, 35- and 47-Across |
| 47% | SODAMIXER | 9 | Ingredient in some cocktails ... or a hint to the last words in 17-, 23-, 32-, 43- and 48-Across |
| 47% | REPEATAFTERME | 13 | Swearing-in words … or a hint to 17-, 22-, 48- and 55-Across |
| 47% | BODYDOUBLES | 11 | Star stand-ins ... or a hint to 17-, 25, 48- and 58-Across? |
| 46% | FINGERSCROSSED | 14 | "Here's hoping" ... or a hint to 16-Across/10-Down and 37-Across/14-Down |
| 46% | IFIWEREYOU | 10 | Start of some advice … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| 46% | STICKEMUP | 9 | "Hands in the air!" ... or a literal hint to 17-, 23-, 37- and 46-Across |
| 45% | HEAD | 4 | With 37-Across, hair accessory ... or a literal hint to 19-, 27-, 47- and 56-Across |
| 45% | HUEANDCRY | 9 | Public uproar … or a phonetic hint to the two words in 17-, 28- and 48-Across? |
| 45% | STRETCHTHETRUTH | 15 | Exaggerate ... or a hint to five nonconsecutive letters in 20-Across, 36-Across and 7-Down |
| 45% | WOMENOFLETTERS | 14 | Female scholars ... or a hint to 19-, 28-, 34- and 42-Across |
| 44% | AUPAIRS | 7 | Live-in workers ... or a hint to 14, 18, 32, and 51 Across |
| 44% | SPLITTHEBILL | 12 | Go Dutch ... or a hint to 20-, 28-, 37- and 44-Across |
| 44% | HEADFAKE | 8 | Basketball feint ... or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 46-Across? |
| 44% | BOUNDTOHAPPEN | 13 | Inevitable ... or a hint for 19-, 27- and 48-Across |
| 44% | HAPPYFOURTH | 11 | Annual greeting ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 26-, 39- and 48-Across |