| OUTDAMNEDSPOT | Shakespearean cry that hints at how 17-, 25-, 48and 56-Across are formed |
| SAYWHAT | "Huh?" ... or a possible response to 1-, 19-, 25-, 48and 57-Across |
| GRIMUPNORTH | It's ___, Justified Ancients of Mu Mu song that hints at how answers to asterisked clues are entered (4,2,5) |
| DOUBLEU | Letter that hints at how 18 answers in this puzzle should be filled in |
| AFAREWELLTOARMS | Ernest Hemingway novel that hints at how to enter answers to asterisked clues (15) |
| IXNAY | Slangy turndown, and a hint to how 17-, 22-, 32-, 47- and 51-Across are formed |
| PAININTHEBEHIND | Annoyance ... and a hint to how 17-, 26- and 44-Across are formed? |
| EXTRAMAYO | Sandwich request, and a literal hint to how the answers at 19-, 27-, 46- and 54-Across are formed |
| TOSSACOIN | Perform a pregame NFL ritual ... or, in four parts, phrase that hints at seven long Across answers |
| TICTACTOE | Pencil game that hints at this puzzle's theme, found in the first and last letters of 18-, 25- and 4 |
| IMSHIFTINGINTO | With 58- Across, "Seinfeld" quote that hints at what each starred clue's answer can be rearranged to spell |
| CLOCK | Instrument that hints at the missing parts of certain answers in this puzzle |
| HOUSEOFCARDS | Hit Netflix show that hints at the theme hidden in the puzzle's borders |
| THEBERRYBEGINNING | Pun on a phrase meaning "square one" that hints at this puzzle's theme |
| CPI | Economic statistic that hints at the cost of living: Abbr. |
| XCHANGESTUDENT | Pupil with a phonetic beginning that hints at what the circled letters comprise |
| TOPOFTHEMORNING | Cheerful greeting that hints at what was added to each starred answer's start |
| MIDDLEEARTH | Tolkien's imaginary world (that hints at this puzzle's theme) |
| JUSTATRIM | Salon request that hints at the letters to write (or imagine) above the starred clues' answers |
| THELEANINGTOWER | Noted Italian campanile that hints at each group of circled letters in this puzzle |
