| INITIALLY | At the start ... or how the first two letters of each starred clue relate to the answer? |
| GEARSHIFT | What the puzzle's title refers to, or, how the first four letters of each starred entry might be described |
| CAROL | "Deck the Halls," for one ... or a hint to the first two letters of each word in the starred answers |
| OILCHANGE | Car care task, or how the first three letters of each long entry might be described |
| IMBACKINTHEGAME | Remark after overcoming a setback, and a hint to two letters of each starred answer |
| DROPALINE | Say hi to in writing...or what to do to the first letter of each starred clue? |
| STINGY | Penny-pinching ... or a three-part hint to two outer and two inner letters of each starred clue's answer |
| SPARECHANGE | A small amount of money; also, how the first five letters of each starred entry might be described |
| CREDITS | The acknowledgements of the work of contributors shown at the start or end of a film (7) |
| EPICENTER | *Point above a quake's origin (Note the first four letters of each starred clue's answer) |
| OPENINGDAY | Start of the baseball season ... or what the start of each starred clue is? |
| MACKLEMORE | *"Thrift Shop" rapper (Theme hint: Note the last several letters of each starred clue's answer) |
| CODEWORDS | Encrypted terms, or a hint to the first two letters of both parts of the starred answers? |
| FRIENDSTOTHEEND | True buds, and a hint to the last three or four letters of each starred answer |
| PARTANIMAL | Like a centaur or faun ... or a hint to the answer to each of this puzzle's starred clues |
| FINALCUT | Director's demand, and the last four or five letters of each starred answer |
| POST | A stake or upright marking the start or finish of a horse race; or, a collection or delivery of mail (4) |
| HIDDENGEM | Well-kept secret ... or a hint to the answer to each starred clue |
| ALTERNATIVEROCK | Nirvana genre, or a hint to the first word of each starred clue's answer |
| COMEONDOWN | "The Price Is Right" catchphrase, or a hint to the meaning and direction of each starred clue's answer |
