Let me know if anyone was on Teazel's wavelength today - because I was a long way from it. Possibly my own fault as I've been walking around Brisbane all day and have an hour slot to solve/blog before going out so I've been rushing. It does seem a touch on the tough side.
ACROSS
1. Manic - over-excited. MAN, in charge (IC).
4. Shallot - vegetable. HALL inside SOT.
8. Augusta - city in America. AUGUST with A.
9. Milne - children's author. Dig (MINE) around (L)ibrary.
10. Possessive. Double definition - unwilling to relinquish and the possessive case.
14. Eyelid - batter. Homophone of I lid = I must have helmet. I liked the 'batter' = eyelid bit but not the homophone.
15. Milord - gentleman abroad. Formerly a continental tile for an English gentleman. Even tempered (MILD) welcoming soldiers (OR - ordinary ranks).
17. Folklorist - collector of popular tales. Anagram (out) of TOOK FRILLS.
20. Ad hoc - for a particular purpose. Homophone say of 'add hock'.
22. Braille - cryptic definition - nice clue.
23. En masse - in big group. Anagram (mad) of MEN plus (ASSE)s.
24. Eider - duck. RED and IE all backwards.
DOWN
1. Mean - average. MAN holding energy (E).
2. No-go - banned area. All red (traffic) light = no go.
3. Custodial - a court sentence. Anagram (wounded) of SCOUTFACE, face (DIAL) - thank you Anon.
4. Sparse - scattered. Boxes (SPARS) over (before) garag(E).
5. Train - aim as in a gun. Morning (AM) holding I.
6. Lollipop - sweet. Relax (LOLL), one (I), fizzy drink (POP).
7. The bends - life threatening condition. Can't get the bends straight.
11. Shipshape - neat. A humorous description of a boat (if you're not much of a sailor).
12. Beefcake - muscle man. Main course = BEEF, sweet course = CAKE.
13. Sealyham - dog - one I'd actually heard of. Anagram (unusually) of LEASH MAY).
16. Treble - 'young' singer - well, yes it is, but can also be an adult female. A treble whisky would be a very stiff drink (one you may need after today's puzzle).
18. Glad - happy. Good (G), boy (LAD).
19. Bear - double definition.
21. Cos - lettuce. Firm (CO), small (S).
ACROSS
1. Manic - over-excited. MAN, in charge (IC).
4. Shallot - vegetable. HALL inside SOT.
8. Augusta - city in America. AUGUST with A.
9. Milne - children's author. Dig (MINE) around (L)ibrary.
10. Possessive. Double definition - unwilling to relinquish and the possessive case.
14. Eyelid - batter. Homophone of I lid = I must have helmet. I liked the 'batter' = eyelid bit but not the homophone.
15. Milord - gentleman abroad. Formerly a continental tile for an English gentleman. Even tempered (MILD) welcoming soldiers (OR - ordinary ranks).
17. Folklorist - collector of popular tales. Anagram (out) of TOOK FRILLS.
20. Ad hoc - for a particular purpose. Homophone say of 'add hock'.
22. Braille - cryptic definition - nice clue.
23. En masse - in big group. Anagram (mad) of MEN plus (ASSE)s.
24. Eider - duck. RED and IE all backwards.
DOWN
1. Mean - average. MAN holding energy (E).
2. No-go - banned area. All red (traffic) light = no go.
3. Custodial - a court sentence. Anagram (wounded) of SCOUT
4. Sparse - scattered. Boxes (SPARS) over (before) garag(E).
5. Train - aim as in a gun. Morning (AM) holding I.
6. Lollipop - sweet. Relax (LOLL), one (I), fizzy drink (POP).
7. The bends - life threatening condition. Can't get the bends straight.
11. Shipshape - neat. A humorous description of a boat (if you're not much of a sailor).
12. Beefcake - muscle man. Main course = BEEF, sweet course = CAKE.
13. Sealyham - dog - one I'd actually heard of. Anagram (unusually) of LEASH MAY).
16. Treble - 'young' singer - well, yes it is, but can also be an adult female. A treble whisky would be a very stiff drink (one you may need after today's puzzle).
18. Glad - happy. Good (G), boy (LAD).
19. Bear - double definition.
21. Cos - lettuce. Firm (CO), small (S).