| CROWN | Top thing symbolising a monarch? (5) |
| CROSS | A monument in a market square; a mongrel dog; a mark symbolising a kiss in a letter; or, a gesture with one's fingers when wishing for good luck (5) |
| IDEOGRAM | Written character symbolising a concept or the thing itself |
| HAIKU | Japanese poem traditionally incorporating a word/phrase, or "kigo", symbolising a particular season (5) |
| TOTEM | Object symbolising a clan (5) |
| COLUMBA | Small faint constellation in the southern hemisphere symbolising a dove |
| TOECAP | Reportedly, pull top thing for protecting a boot |
| SPIN | A top thing to do (4) |
| FIRSTHAND | Top thing taken by a poker player directly (5-4) |
| BESTAD | Once set about offering top thing to attract customers |
| ELIDE | Omit when speaking top thing in here intermittently (5) |
| LINEA | Top thing filled in on an I.R.S. form |
| DROP | Fishing with light tackle, soft lure (*rod's top thing!) (4,8) |
| SHOTTING | Fishing with light tackle, soft lure (*rod's top thing!) (4,8) |
| ACTIONITEM | One of the top things on a to-do list |
| WIN | Top things off? |
| WIGS | "Over the top" things to wear (4) |
| NIGHTSPOT | Top things put out at drinking club after dark (9) |
| HYACINTH | Named after a mythological prince accidentally killed by Apollo with a discus, a flower symbolising play/sport, sometimes grown in a forcing vase (8) |
| DOVE | A columbarium- or cote-dwelling bird symbolising peace, hence a gentle person or pacifist, as opposed to a pro-war hardliner or "hawk"; or, a browny, buff, cream or greyish colour, evocative of said " |
