Complete Clue List
Across
1. [I] Small particle [II] Tiny grain [III] Grit bit
5. [I] Old-timer [II] Flea-market find [III] Period piece
9. [I] Male [II] Manly [III] Macho
10. [I] Blade [II] Kitchen tool [III] Part of a place setting
11. [I] Flat highland [II] It's on the level [III] Stop getting better
12. [I] Resident [II] Inhabitant [III] Frequent visitor
13. [I] Sidestep [II] Sneaky trick [III] Artful move?
15. [I] Scientific [II] Mechanical [III] Complex
17. [I] Meddle [II] Pry [III] Step in
19. [I] Bogus [II] Two-faced [III] Disloyal
21. [I] Picky [II] Fussy [III] Hard to please
23. [I] Skateboarder's accessory [II] Patella protector [III] Joint coverage? (All: 4,3)
25. [I] Opening bit [II] Short foreword [III] Lead-in, briefly
26. [I] Sharpest [II] Most stylish [III] Flashier than all the others
27. [I] Information [II] Glad ____ (good news) [III] "Comfort and joy," in a Christmas carol
28. [I] Inconsistent [II] Unpredictable [III] All over the place
Down
1. [I] Video gaming input device [II] Joystick home [III] Console controller
2. [I] Bewildered [II] Utterly lost [III] On the ocean (All: 2,3)
3. [I] Four-string instrument [II] Island music maker [III] Tuned to "My dog has fleas"
4. [I] Ceremonial code [II] Proprieties [III] Rules of socially-acceptable behaviour
5. [I] In the lead [II] In the future [III] In the offing
6. [I] Tackled [II] Hired [III] Vied with (All: 5,2)
7. [I] Questioning [II] Perplexed [III] Curious
8. [I] Enduring [II] Everlasting [III] Endless
14. [I] Blew [II] Set off [III] Exploded
16. [I] Defeat [II] Complete victory [III] Last word in chess
17. [I] Impose [II] Force [III] Deal a blow to
18. [I] "Masked" scavenger [II] Omnivorous nocturnal mammal [III] Rocky in a Beatles' ballad
19. [I] Icebox [II] Ice cream storage [III] Spoilage slower
20. [I] Photographic, as memory [II] Exceptionally vivid [III] Like clear mental images
22. [I] Affirmatives [II] Approvals [III] Ayes
24. [I] Clothing crease [II] Fabric fold [III] Garment gather