| BTOB | Like intercompany trade, for short, and a hint to the starred answers |
| BANDE | Burglary, for short ... and a hint to this puzzle's four longest answers |
| RRXING | Intersection with flashing lights and bells, for short, and a hint to this puzzle's circles |
| BIZ | Trade, for short |
| EMAIL | Intercompany communication |
| OTC | Like some stock trades, for short |
| AMEX | Site of many trades, for short |
| ARB | Maker of simultaneous stock trades, for short |
| TROG | Caveman, for short (and the appropriate starting square of the parade route, which is actually the opening lyrics of a famous march from "The Music Man" ... you can try tracing it as it winds through |
| CHINO | From the Spanish meaning "toasted" in reference to its traditional colour, a cotton drill-like twill textile used for shorts and trousers (5) |
| GMO | Bio-engineered life form, for short, and something hidden in the theme answers |
| MALEMUTE | Arctic dog: Male, short and a type unlikely to bark? (8) |
| IAMB | Poetic foot with a short and a long syllable |
| JOHNFETTERMAN | This U.S. senator has regularly violated the Senate's dress code since 2023 by wearing gym shorts and a hoodie into the chamber |
| STUMPY | Agent holds belly in, being short and a bit thick! (6) |
| PINACOLADA | Drink quantity of beer, short and a soft drink, with Russian's agreement (4,6) |
| EMBARGO | A stoppage of trade for a short time by authority (7) |
| KISMET | Fate of tools of the trade for small- to medium-sized enterprises inside (6) |
| ICESKATES | Tools of the trade for Torvill and Dean (3,6) |
| RAZOR | A tool of the trade for Sweeney Todd? (5) |
