| FINGERFOODS | 17-, 30- and 45-Across, literally and figuratively |
| TRYINGTIMES | Taxing periods, and a hint to 17-, 30- and 45- Across |
| KIDSAREALLRIGHT | With "The," 2010 Annette Bening/Julianne Moore film ... and a hint to the ends of 17-, 30- and 45-Across |
| SOUNDADVICE | Words of wisdom, and what 17-, 30-, and 45-Across could be called? |
| TAKINGSIDES | Showing partiality ... or a hint to how the clues for 17-, 30- and 45-Across were constructed |
| THESOUNDOFMUSIC | Best Picture winner of 1965 ... or a description of the ends of 17-, 30- and 45-Across? |
| DOUBLECROSSED | Like five Across answers by five Down answers in this puzzle, literally and figuratively |
| CLUELESS | Like five answers in this puzzle, literally and figuratively |
| SLIPPERYSLOPE | Literally and figuratively, it usually leads to disaster (8,5) |
| MIDEAST | Hot spot, both literally and figuratively |
| BADEGGS | Real stinkers. literally and figuratively |
| VENT | Let off some steam, literally and figuratively |
| WELCOMENEWS | WHAT THIS PUZZLE IS, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY? (two words) |
| DIGEST | Assimilate (literally and figuratively) (6) |
| GATEWAY | Means of access - literally and figuratively? (7) |
| VIPER | Snake, literally and figuratively |
| LANDLOCKED | Like the countries in the starred answers, literally and figuratively |
| REALSTINKER | Skunk, literally and figuratively |
| UTTERLYCLUELESS | Lost, like three answers in this puzzle, literally and figuratively |
| STELLAR | Out of this world, both literally and figuratively |
