Cryptic crossword No 1,738

Thanks and welcome to MyCrossword DeclarationGame! Not a bad start here. I particularly admired 10a, 12a (clever), 17a (COTD), 20a (cute), 5d (clever), 11d, 17d (had me going too long) among others. A couple of suggestions here, then a few more specific spoilery queries in Reply. MyC setting tools offer the option to make explanations available to the solver as ‘annotated solutions’, which is often helpful retrospectively. Conventionally the clues don’t have a period (.) at the end. Thx again!

Thanks DG & welcome. Lots to enjoy here, my faves were 12a, 13a, 17a, 25a & 3d. Spoilers ...

Welcome to the site. I ended up with a full grid bar two letters (2d) and worked out what you had in mind for parsing. OzP and Fez have given some sound advice which I won't replicate. There were certainly some very nice clues in here as well as some to work upon. Faves inc: 12a, 13a, 17a, 1d, 3d, 6d, 16d and 23d - which I got immediately but then I wore it myself 40 odd years ago! Thanks. PM

Thanks DeclarationGame for a fun puzzle. I was impressed here by the brevity of the cluing and the cleanness of the wordplay and any quibbles I had have been expertly detailed by Ozpiper and Fez. Particular favourites were 10a, 12a, 16a, 1d, 17d and 19d.

Enjoyed that! Really good amount of theme words, but it took a pleasingly long time to spot!