| NOTSOHOT | Might be better a little cooler |
| MINIBAR | Upstanding winner of Nobel Peace Prize, I'm a little cooler |
| BRATPACKER | Loudmouth might be better shutting stupid trap |
| OUTPOST | Remote camp might be better at forum, perhaps |
| ESKY | One takes back many final pieces branded for a small cooler |
| ICECUBE | Reserve power needed for small cooler |
| ADAGE | 'Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit,' e.g. |
| RAISE | Better a bet |
| CAPACITY | Better, a civic role (8) |
| AMELIORATE | Better a mile off to hold forth (10) |
| ENEMYS | "Better a friend's bite than an ___ caress": Danish proverb |
| OCCURRED | Took place in company, rising, better a about right? (8) |
| EXCEL | Better a large size, by the sound of it |
| RATHER | "Would you like to swing on a star? Carry moonbeams home in a jar; And be better off than you are; Or would you ... be a mule?" asked Bing Crosby |
| INAJAR | "Would you like to swing on a star? Carry moonbeams home ...; And be better off than you are; Or would you rather be a mule?" (2,1,3) |
| WORSE | A point that's sore, perhaps, will never be better |
| OUTSTRIP | Be better than, as a paint remover (8) |
| ROUGHDIAMOND | Hoodlum, one in a suit, who may be better than he appears |
| UPGRADE | Purged a corrupted bit of software that's supposed to be better (7) |
| ONTHEOTHER | Nonetheless may be better expressed to a southpaw! (2,3,5,4) |
