Clue: Maybe 12, 17, 25, 26, 27, 31, 5 and 23, jeopardising 26 down or 2? (3,4,5)
Answer: TOO MANY COOKS
Explanation: Definition: Maybe 
COOKS are the solutions to 12, 17, 25, 26ac, 27, 31, 5, and 23 – and too many cooks could spoil the 'broths' in the solutions to 2dn or 26dn