No 14322, Tuesday 05 Nov 2024, Arden

Solution to 20D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Restrain worker on strike (8) HANDCUFF {HAND}{CUFF}

5   Turning fist to hide a Chinaman, take a look (6) SHUFTI {S{HU}FTI*}

10 "Count six, come have tea," they say (7) VICOMTE {VI}{COM{(~tea)T}E}

11 Arrests to end arms supplies (7) REMANDS*

12 Rum bottles, he gets a discharge (5) RHEUM {R{HE}UM}

13 Whine about membrane filled with foul water (9) CATERWAUL {CA{WATER*}UL}

14 Flat on pitch, hit bull's eye (4,2,6) DEAD ON TARGET {DEAD}{ON}{TAR}{GET}

18 Healthy topic, perhaps imagined (12) HYPOTHETICAL*

21 Seaweed or a grass bundle in total (9) SARGASSUM {A+GRASS}*{SUM}

23 Praise for taking part in the next Olympics (5) EXTOL [T]

24 Spanish tribe losing leader, in a turmoil (7) IBERIAN {tRIBE+IN+A}*

25 Article about Rome in principle (7) THEOREM {THE}{ROME*}

26 Net-net refuse and blame (6) ENTRAP {NET*}{RAP}

27 One way to cook - include coffee butter (8) FLATTERY {F{LATTE}RY}

DOWN

1   Wrong horse claiming victory is suspended (6) HOVERS {HO{V}ERS*}

2   Check both sides in direct line, get some money from the US (6) NICKEL {NI{ChecK}EL*}

3   Cat without leg perhaps gets the cheese (9) CAMEMBERT {CA{MEMBER}T}

4   National habit seen on the dining table perhaps (6,8) FRENCH DRESSING {FRENCH}{DRESSING}

6   Bard in 'Romeo' (5) HOMER {HOME}{R}

7   Freak about and leave for a dance (8) FANDANGO {F{AND}AN}{GO}

8   Cut toenails, keep them in the sun (8) INSOLATE*

9   With Latin brain, team prepared Pewter alloy (9,5) BRITANNIA METAL*

15 Such a lowly accommodation is disgrace (9) ABASEMENT {A}{BASEMENT}

16 Discipline as tea is set out (8) CHASTISE {CHA}{IS+SET}*

17 Laxative copy, nothing missing from the east (8) APERIENT {APE}{oRIENT}

19 Look to secure victory - go without food (6) STARVE {STAR{V}E}

20 British sound surprised by eating fruit (6) ?L?M?Y (Addendum -  BLIMEY {B{LIME}Y} - See comments)

22 Tailless beast showing an individual's true inner self (5) ANIMA ANIMAl

Reference List

Victory = V, Romeo = R, Tea = CHA