| SHIRT | This improved with right top |
| SANTA | Fraction of this improved with kiss (5) |
| ANKLE | Lake improved with new joint (5) |
| KUDOS | Dusk improved with old glory (5) |
| SHOAL | Hols improved with a lot of fish (5) |
| CHAFE | Face improved with hard rub (5) |
| ARTHRITIS | His trait improved with right complaint (9) |
| DETERRENT | Damage around tree improved with right discouragement (9) |
| BACON | "Almost anything can be improved with the addition of __": Jasper Fforde |
| TSHIRT | Change this for the right top (1-5) |
| WATERPOLO | Women took in right top for sport (5,4) |
| STOLID | Unemotional sort possibly without right top (6) |
| OLE | Matador's cry When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
| METE | Allot, ... out rations When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
| OSSO | Italian veal dish, ... buco When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
| DUE | About to arrive When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
| RAS | Moroccan spice mix, ... el hanout When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
| ANY | Song, ... Dream Will Do When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
| ROLL | Distressed animal sound When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
| ADZE | Large chisel-like tool When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
