| TOEIN | Auto wheel alignment, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| FIVEMANROTATION | Typical MLB pitching alignment, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| HERESWHY | "Allow me to explain," and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| TUESDAY | Part of a calendar septet, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| MAKINGENDSMEET | Scratching out a living ... and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| ALLEYESONME | "Pay close attention to what I'm doing," and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| NOWISE | Without any chance at all (and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| ESPYAWARDS | Honors for athletes, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| AYEAYE | Sailor's OK, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| YOUFIRST | "Lead the way!", and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| SOUNDINGBOARD | Someone to bounce ideas off of ... or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| BREAKOFDAWN | Morning occurrence before twilight ... and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| YTK | Big scare of a couple of decades ago ... or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
| ELSIE | Borden cow... and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's four longest answers |
| SNL | NBC fixture fond of wordplay, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's spoonerisms |
| ARGON | About 1% of Earth's atmosphere, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's gimmick |
| CAGEY | Shrewd ... and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's four longest answers |
| LONGMAYYOURUN | 1976 Neil Young-Stephen Stills single, and a phonetic hint to this puzzle |
| BEADY | Like little, glittering eyes ... and a phonetic hint to this puzzle's four longest answers |
| BEQUIET | "Shut up!" ... or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's theme |
