Crossword Genius

Worn-out elves wait for treatment in fairy story (3,5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

old wives' tale

'fairy story' is the definition.
(both can mean a made-up story)

'worn-out elves wait for treatment' is the wordplay.
'worn-out' becomes 'old' (I've seen this in another clue).
'for treatment' indicates an anagram (I've seen this in other clues).
'elves'+'wait'='elveswait'
'elveswait' anagrammed gives 'wivestale'.
'old'+'wivestale'='OLD WIVES' TALE'

'in' is the link.

(Another definition for old wives' tale that I've seen is " Doubtful lore".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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