| HOPSCOTCHED | *Was optimistic (In this answer, see letters 4-9) |
| HOPED | After spring, paper's boss was optimistic (5) |
| HALFSIBLING | Brother from another mother, perhaps (in this answer, see letters 4-7, minus letter 5) |
| CALVINCOOLIDGE | He was president in 1925 (In this answer, see letters 7-10) |
| YEAHSURE | "Uh-huh, I bet" (In this answer, see letters 7-4) |
| TEAKETTLE | It whistles when it's ready for English breakfast (In this answer, see letters 1-4) |
| CALLEDTOORDER | Started by banging a gavel, say (In this answer, see letters 8-11) |
| AUDIORECORDING | It's heard but never seen (In this answer, see letters 3-6) |
| EVILLAUGHTER | Sound such as "Mwahahaha!" (In this answer, see letters 2-6) |
| MSRACHEL | "Songs for Littles" YouTuber (In this answer, see letters 5-2) |
| STEPMOTHERINLAW | Certain acquired relative (In this answer, see letters 1, 2, 10, 14 and 15) |
| REPTILEROOM | Where to find a snake in the glass (In this clue's answer, see letters 4-8) |
| DISCODANCER | One may do the hustle (In this clue's answer, see letters 4-6) |
| CHOPINETUDE | Practice piece by composer Frederic (In this clue's answer, see letters 4-7) |
| SESAMESEEDROLLS | Sandwich holders with crunchy morsels (In this clue's answer, see letters 4-7) |
| ROCKFORDPEACHES | "A League of Their Own" team (In this answer, see the first 2 letters + the last 5) |
| TONEPOEMS | Storytelling orchestral pieces (In this answer, see the first 2 letters + the last 2) |
| HIBISCUS | See 17-Across (In this answer, see letters 1-2) |
| SAMSUNGGALAXYNOTEEDGE | Phablet released in 2014 (In this clue's answer, see letters 15-12) |
| CUCKOOCLOCK | Old-timey timepiece (In this clue's answer, see letters 7-4) |
