| TIMEOUT | Clock-stopper in a game, or a description of the answer to each starred clue |
| SIDELINES | Where to find coaches at football games ... or a description of the answers to the 16 starred clues? |
| FINALBOSS | Last opponent in a video game, or a description of the ends of 20-, 32-, and 43-Across |
| FACE | Clock stopper? |
| REF | Clock stopper, at times |
| TURN | A change of direction; a short walk; one's go or chance to make a move in a game; or, a short act (4) |
| HUDDLE | A dense crowd or jumble; an impromptu secret conference; a close gathering of strategising sports players prior to a game; or, a group of penguins or walruses (6) |
| SCORE | A shepherd's historical tally of 20 sheep; the notch duly made; points in a game; or, a grievance or grudge (5) |
| MANDA | Abbreviated term for the consolidation of companies, or a description of the answer to each starred clue |
| WHITEWASH | Word for a glass of sherry after claret, port or other wine; wall paint synonymous with a cover-up, deception or glossing over; or, a total defeat or thrash in a game or match (9) |
| BLEED | Win a lot of money a little at a time, from either a game or a particular player* |
| WISECRACK | Witticism ... or, literally, a description of the answer to each of the four starred clues? |
| HALFMEASURE | Paltry effort, or a literal description of the answer to each starred clue |
| PLOY | A cunning plan to gain advantage; a manoeuvre or gambit in a game or conversation; or, a hobby, job etc with which one is occupied (4) |
| EDGECASE | Situation that occurs under extreme conditions, and a description of the answer to each starred clue |
| PLAYWITHINAPLAY | Embedded narrative, and a description of the answer to each starred clue |
| TOKEN | Amoret, favour or memento such as an engraved coin, love-knot or a portrait miniature; a counter, man or piece for a board game; or, a voucher exchanged for a book or a gift (5) |
| QUEST | Whether a knight's crusade for the Grail, a pilgrim's progress to a holy place, a philosopher's pursuit of truth, a hound's hunt for game or a computer's scan for data, it is a word, from "ask, seek", |
| SIDEQUEST | Secondary task in a computer game, or a feature of each answer to an asterisked clue (9) |
| HUMANNATURE | Set of traits we all have ... or a two-part description of the answers to the starred clues? |
