| 100% | CHECKALL | 8 | With 39-Down, fulfill requirements ... or how to fill four of this puzzle's squares? |
| 50% | SHORT | 5 | With 39-Across, some Sundance submissions … or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 49% | NBA | 3 | With 39-Across, classic sports video game ... or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 46% | KITTYCORNER | 11 | Diagonally ... or a hint to four of this puzzle's squares |
| 45% | INSIDEOUT | 9 | Thoroughly … or how to read the four Across answers with parentheses in this puzzle |
| 40% | SUGGESTIONBOXES | 15 | Slotted containers, and a clue to four of this puzzle's squares |
| 40% | INTHEDARK | 9 | Wild guess, and a hint to four of this puzzle's squares |
| 39% | YOUBLOCKHEAD | 12 | Lucy van Pelt's frequent outburst to Charlie Brown ... or how to fill some squares in this puzzle? |
| 38% | TELEPHONE | 9 | Hint to filling in four squares in this puzzle |
| 38% | DOTTHEIS | 8 | Pay attention to details … or a hint to filling in seven of this puzzle's squares |
| 36% | ALBERT | 6 | With 39-Down, speaker of this puzzle's quote |
| 36% | OUTER | 5 | With 39-Across, region beyond the Kármán line ... or a literal hint to what this puzzle has |
| 36% | ROLLINGBLACKOUT | 15 | Temporary, controlled power shutdown … or a hint to reading four of this puzzle's answers |
| 36% | SCOOPEDUP | 9 | Eagerly obtained ... or a hint to the contents of this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 36% | DONTLOOKATME | 12 | “I had nothing to do with it!” . . . or how to make sense of twelve of this puzzle’s clues |
| 36% | DOWN | 4 | With 40-Down, how rain falls ... or a literal description of the answers to the four themed clues |
| 36% | ASYMMETRY | 9 | Feature of this puzzle that's "fixed" by a literal reading of four squares |
| 36% | SEVERAL | 7 | Four or five, or how to make the theme answers in this puzzle |
| 36% | SHAKEWEIGHT | 11 | Oscillating exercise device of infomercial fame . . . or how to arrive at the four strings of circled letters in this puzzle |
| 35% | LOVEHATERELATIONSHIPS | 21 | They involve mixed feelings ... or a hint to four squares in this completed puzzle |
| 35% | YOU | 3 | With 39-Across, answer to the question "Who's the solver of this puzzle?" |
| 35% | SPOONBENDING | 12 | Display of mentalism ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 34% | COVERALLTHEBASES | 16 | Take care of everything … or a hint to what four squares in this puzzle do |
| 34% | FIRSTMATES | 10 | Title of this puzzle, in reference to 17- and 39-Across and 11- and 26-Down |
| 34% | IMPULSE | 7 | With 63-Across, Freudian concept of resisting temptation ... or a hint to four squares in this puzzle |
| 34% | NECKING | 7 | Making out ... or a hint to this puzzle's four hidden articles of clothing |
| 34% | TIBBAR | 6 | Visual representation of this puzzle's trick (go to 38-Down) |
| 34% | CAPITAL | 7 | With 31-Down, proceeds from the sale of an asset … or a hint to understanding six answers in this puzzle |
| 34% | DOTHEMATH | 9 | "Figure it out!" … or how to arrive at this puzzle's solution, using the answers to italicized clues |
| 33% | LEGUP | 5 | Boost, and a hint to four of this puzzle's answers |