| MRINBETWEEN | *One not to be messed with, in an old song |
| SACREDCOWS | Small-minded, muddle-headed bullies? They're not to be messed with (6,4) |
| TEXAS | State that's not to be messed with |
| DOWNTHELINE | New Delhi, not to be messed with later on (4,3,4) |
| ERASE | Delete tea rose that's not to be messed with! (5) |
| TESTY | Not to be messed with |
| NOMDEGRRR | Any moniker like Spike or Bruiser, indicating a dog that shouldn't be messed with? |
| YOUYOUYOU | *Whom "I'm in love with" in an Ames Brothers song, and a hint to what the answers to starred clues c |
| ROTTER | One not to be honoured for presenting the queen with an animal |
| DOUBLEAGENT | One not to be trusted in spydom |
| WEASEL | One not to be trusted with artist's equipment |
| SACREDCOW | Bill, embarrassed about being taken in by beast, one not to be criticised |
| PEN | Something to write with in an enclosure |
| KEYNOTEADDRESS | Vital record to deal with in an important speech (7,7) |
| RIVAL | Someone to contend with in an event (5) |
| SWALLOWS | What birds feature in an old song with Capistrano in its title? (8) |
| DINAH | Someone's in the kitchen with her, in an old song |
| BALLGAME | *Something to "take me out to," in an old song |
| MEETME | What to do "in St. Louis," in an old song |
| LASTBUS | Model, black American ___ one not to be missed! (4,3) |
