A quick post – harder than usual from Phi with a theme – referred to after the clue explanations. Solving time, 29 mins.
< = reversed
ACROSS
10 SHOO(t) Definition = off!
11 DIURETIC
12 A US TEN
15 RE (p)LIABLE
18 BUTTER (c)UP
19 SPR(a)Y
27 DER ELIC(i)T
28 (do)SE CURE
DOWN
2 I AM BI
6 OBS TA (C) LE
8 PROP (E LL) ER
14 A QUIT A IN E
17 GRAF(t) FIT I
20 UNI TES set<
22 E AG(i)LE
Outside columns give LADYBIRD HONEYBEE
Funny how it goes. I’ve been struggling a bit with Phi recently, and have wondered if I’m losing it. There are you saying “harder than usual”, but today was the easiest for several weeks, I thought.
Perhaps I should vaingloriously add that the outer columns say what they do because the central column is INSECT REPELLENT…