| FOURALARM | Hot chili designation, and a literal description of the starts of 17-, 25-, 35and 51-Across |
| MIXEDGREENS | Salad choice, and a literal description of the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| ADDITIONBYSUBTRACTION | Strategy for improving a business through downsizing ... and a literal description of the letters dropped from this puzzle's businesses |
| GRIMACESHAKE | McDonald's beverage that, when drunk, supposedly leads to ridiculous and frightening consequences (and a literal description of the circled letters) |
| CHANGINGTABLES | Furniture for new parents ... and a literal description of the circled squares (look on top of them to find this puzzle's six-letter meta answer) |
| BROADCOMEDIES | Zany movies, or a literal description of the contents of the spread-out circles |
| BOTTOMLESSBRUNCH | Event that might feature unlimited mimosas ... or a literal description of the answers to the starred clues |
| TOOLSAROUND | Takes a casual drive ... and a literal description of 10 puzzle answers |
| ITSONTHEHOUSE | "Your money is no good here" ... and a literal description of each answer to the starred clues |
| BORDERBILLS | Federal government plans (like the one by James Lankford), and a literal description of this puzzle's grid |
| COCONUT | Fruit that can be the source of the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| HALFMEASURE | Paltry effort, or a literal description of the answer to each starred clue |
| ALONGCAMEABIRD | Description of the start of some Road Runner cartoons? |
| HELLBENT | Totally determined, and a literal description of this puzzle's circled letters |
| SIDEJOB | Secondary gig, and a literal description of this puzzle |
| BATH | Appropriate room for the sequence comprised of the starts of 18-, |
| NOHITTER | Feat that, as of the start of 2018, has been achieved by every baseball team except the San Diego Padres |
| WHATABREEZE | "Piece of cake!" ... and apt description of the starts of 17-. 22-. 36- and 46-Across? |
| JOHNNYONTHESPOT | Person who's ready and able to help ... or a literal description of four occurrences in this puzzle |
| GERMINATION | Process of the start of growth |
