100% | HEAVY | 5 | With 2-Down, phrase applicable to both iron and Iron Maiden |
45% | GREAT | 5 | With 27-, 49- and 66-Across, phrase applicable to five innovations in this puzzle (as suggested by the starred clues) |
41% | ISWEAR | 6 | A promise not to, with 2 Down |
37% | NEEDISAY | 8 | With 2-Down, "Want me to elaborate?" |
37% | WRONG | 5 | With 2-Down, bad thing to back, idiomatically |
37% | DROP | 4 | With 2-Down, write to somebody |
36% | UNI | 3 | Prefix with "sex" to mean suitable for both male and female |
36% | METALMUSIC | 10 | Genre for Slayer and Iron Maiden ... or a hint to 17-, 23-, 38- and 47-Across |
35% | PSALMS | 6 | Whence the phrase "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep" |
35% | SELENAGOMEZ | 11 | "Hands to Myself" singer who records in both English and Spanish: 2 wds. |
35% | BAD | 3 | With 2-Down, what a villain may come to |
35% | RED | 3 | With 2- and 5-Down, patriotic colors |
35% | CLICHE | 6 | 2 Down phrase |
34% | HASTE | 5 | With 2- and 4-Down, adage about rushing |
34% | METAL | 5 | Category for iron and Iron Maiden |
34% | PAPA | 4 | With 2 Down, parents |
34% | MEGANTHEE | 9 | With 46-Across, "Savage" rapper who both hosted and was the musical act in a 2022 "SNL" episode: 2 wds. |
34% | AMBI | 4 | Prefix with "dextrous" to mean someone who uses both left and right hand with equal ease |
34% | KOOP | 4 | Surgeon General under Reagan, who surprised both parties with his efforts to fight AIDS and smoking |
34% | PORES | 5 | With 2 Down, studies closely |
33% | HAT | 3 | With "in" and 2-Down, with respectful humility |
33% | ICI | 3 | With 13-Down, here and there, to Henri |
33% | SET | 3 | With ''to'' and 26 Down, pacify |
33% | LAKE | 4 | With 2 Down, water bordering Cleveland |
33% | DURAN | 5 | With 2-Down, group with the only James Bond theme to hit #1 |
33% | DOG | 3 | With 2 Down, bookmark of a sort |
33% | BEND | 4 | With 2-Down, stoop down |
32% | MOVIE | 5 | With 3-Down, time to gather and watch some Netflix |
32% | MAGNA | 5 | With "cum" and 32-Down, a diploma phrase |