| YEAHRIGHT | "Uh-huh, I bet" ... or a literal description of what 17-, 24-, 36- and 50-Across all have |
| DROPTHEBALL | Mess up ... and a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 50-Across |
| SUREYOUARE | "Uh-huh, I believe THAT" |
| DOUBLEDOWN | Blackjack bet ... or a hint to applying the five circled regions in this puzzle |
| MERGEAHEAD | "Road narrows" sign, or when read as three words, an apt description of what 17-, 26-, and 43-Across do |
| AUTOCORRECTIONS | Suggestions in a text message ... and what 17-, 24-, 36-, and 48-Across may require, literally and figuratively? |
| FOULLANGUAGE | Profanity ... or what 17-, 24-, 36- and 52-Across start with? |
| COVERSONGS | Musical remakes, and what 17-, 26-, 40-, and 50-Across all are, in a way |
| STARTFROMSCRATCH | Begin all over again ... and what 18-, 33-, 43- and 50-Across all do (almost), as indicated by the circled letters |
| JOHNNYONTHESPOT | Person who's ready and able to help ... or a literal description of four occurrences in this puzzle |
| BROADCOMEDIES | Zany movies, or a literal description of the contents of the spread-out circles |
| ADBLOCK | Popular browser extension ... or a literal description of four black squares in this puzzle |
| BOTTOMLESSBRUNCH | Event that might feature unlimited mimosas ... or a literal description of the answers to the starred clues |
| INSIDELANES | Passing areas, and a hint to what 17-, 24-, 38-, and |
| WATERSLIDES | Summer amusements ... or a literal description of three answers in this puzzle |
| HALFMEASURE | Paltry effort, or a literal description of the answer to each starred clue |
| DRESSING | Word that can follow the last parts of 17-, 26-, 36- and 50- |
| SKIRTAROUND | Avoid, or a literal description to the five theme answers |
| KNITTINGNEEDLE | *"Huh, I wasn't aware I was at an ugly sweater party" |
| WHOKNEW | "Huh ... I had no idea!" |
