The answers to the clues below will have something in common.

1. Fresh-start direction
2. Having low priority
3. Indulged in corruption
4. Ambience element
5. Make lots of allowances
6. Plan B
7. Desperate situation
8. "Stop nagging me!"
9. Unable to do anything, as when bedridden
10. Where avalanches often occur
11. Unintended, sarcastic praise
12. "What I really meant was .......... "
13. One who offers unsolicited advice
14. Countertop feature
15. Sass
16. Olympic event
17. Certain boardgame
18. Accumulation of work that needs to be done

Answers:

1. Back to square one
2. On the back burner
3. Took kickbacks
4. Background music
5. Bend over backwards
6. Fallback position
7. Back to the wall
8. "Get off my back!"
9. Flat on your back
10. Backcountry
11. Backhanded compliment
12. Backpedal
13. Back-seat driver
14. Backsplash
15. Back talk
16. Backstroke
17. Backgammon
18. Backlog

Credit: LA Times Crossword
Sylvia Bursztyn and Barry Tunick
BACK OUT  (#1-6)