| SLICEOFLIFE | Realistic, or the first word in each starred clue's answer? |
| PRACTICAL | Realistic, or a sort of joke? |
| CARRIESON | Concerns surrounding Irish backing realistic or trifles? (7,2) |
| AXTOGRIND | *Personal motive (note the first word in each starred clue's answer) |
| PRE | It can come before the first word in each starred entry |
| ANIMALSHELTER | Where a stray may stay, or what the first indicated word in each starred clue's answer is for the second? |
| MULLET | Hairdo whose "business in the front, party in the back" description hints at what can follow the two words in each starred clue's answer |
| TAKE | A synonym for the puzzle's title; it may precede the first word in each of the starred entries |
| TWENTYQUESTIONS | Deductive reasoning activity that may launch an inquiry using the first word in each of the other starred clues |
| APPROPRIATE | A synonym for the first word in each of the starred entries, as well as for the puzzle's title |
| KICKSTARTER | Foot-operated mechanism on a motorcycle, and what the first word in each answer to a starred clue ca |
| POETICLICENSE | *Artistic freedom (note the last word in each starred clue's answer) |
| DOJACATPEGGYLEE | *Line 1 on this puzzle's mixtape label: "Say So" / "Fever" (Hint: Note the scrambled word in each starred clue's answer) |
| SURFZONE | Where waves break, or a description of the second word in each starred answer |
| ETYMOLOGY | What the two words in each starred answer have in common with each other |
| BEFORETAX | Like gross income, and where either word in each starred clue's answer can go |
| HANDPRINT | Turkey's body in a kid's art project, maybe (Theme hint: What can precede both words in each starred clue's answer?) |
| BALLRETURN | Bowling alley device, and a hint to the hidden word in each starred answer |
| BOX | Square that can follow each of the three words in each starred answer |
| BASKETBALL | Sport invented by James Naismith; the second word in each starred entry is a position in this sport |
