| REVERSEPLAY | Football maneuver, and the key to 17-, 24-, 37-, and 51-Across |
| MOCKTAIL | Nonalcoholic mixed drink ... or a hint to the synonyms found at the ends of 16-, 24-, 37- and 51-Across |
| HANGTEN | Do a tricky surfing maneuver (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| FRONTFLIP | Gymnasts' heels-over-head maneuver ... and a hint for making sense of the starred clues' answers |
| FAKEOUT | Sports maneuver (and alternate title for this puzzle) |
| BIRTHDAYPRESENT | It's a gift to those joining The Party and the key to getting into The House perhaps? (8,7) |
| DARKESTHOUR | Film nominated for Best Picture of 2017, and the key to making sense of the answers to the starred clues |
| WHITEOUT | Low-visibility driving condition, and the key to making sense of answers to the starred clues |
| CLEARTHEBASES | Hit one out of the park, and the key to interpreting the starred clues |
| TURNINGHEADS | Attracting attention, and the key to handling the asterisked clues |
| AROUNDTHECORNER | Coming right up, so to speak (and the key to this puzzle) |
| SHADOWBOXES | Trains, in a way, and the key to 18 of this puzzle's black squares. (Ones that begin with the keywor |
| GIF | Oxford American Dictionary's 2012 word of the year, and the key to this puzzle's theme |
| CLASS | Plane seating division (and the key to this puzzle's theme) |
| DISAPPEARINGACT | Part of a magic show, and the key to understanding this puzzle's one-word clues |
| ITSTHEBERRIES | Old expression of admiration (and the key to this puzzle's theme) |
| CENTERICE | Hockey face-off site, and what's inside the answers to 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |
| SPLITPEA | Hearty soup choice, and what can be found in the answers to 17-, 24-, 37- and 47-Across |
| STAGERIGHT | Theater direction ... and a hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 53-Across |
| TAKETHEWIN | Accept victory, however dubious, and a hint to 17-, 24-, 37-, and 52-Across |
