12 minutes. It seemed to me that some answers were easier to come up with than the full explanation of the word play. This made for a fun time blogging - I even have a loose end at 14dn so hope for lots of comments.
Many thanks to Jackkt for standing in last week.
ACROSS
1. Robust - strong. Public transport (BUS) with nonsense (ROT) around.
4. Stones - rocks. On (ON) appearing in groups (SETS) backwards - revolutionary.
8. Inexact - imprecise. I (I) subsequently (NEXT) containing bill (AC).
10. Aural - associated with sound. A (A) wall painting (mURAL) without the 'M' - not medium.
11. Elope - run away. English (E), staff (POLE) turning - all backwards.
12. Implode - collapse. Mischievous character (IMP), seam in mine (LODE). Lode was not at the forefront of my vocabulary banks but it emerged from somewhere.
13. Breakneck - quick. Pause (BREAK), engage in amorous activity (NECK). Going off at somewhat of a tangent - I've been red-necking of late in the mid-West of USA - even caught a cat fish - which apparently qualifies me for the title.
17. Stamina - staying power. Produces cartoon films (ANIMATeS) backwards (returning) without the 'E' - no energy.
18. Curio - antique. Copper (CU) South American city (RIO).
20. Avoid - shun. Opera singer (DIVA) backwards (comeback) with nothing (O) inside.
21. Know-all - smart alec. (K)night, no form of defence (NO WALL).
22. Dismal - sad. Duke (D), is (IS), fellow (MALe) without the last letter - endlessly.
23. Person - individual. Noblemen (PEeRS) without the middle letter - losing heart, working (ON).
DOWN
2. Brecon Beacons - national park. Against (CON) inside and anagram (bad) of BACON BEERS.
3. Siamese - cat. Son (S), I (I) and an anagram (upset) of SEEM about a (A). This also works as an anagram of S, I, SEEM about A.
5. Tramp - vagrant. Male (M) in snare (TRAP).
6. Norfolk Broads - waterways. Good to see my home area cropping up - and I'm aware we have more than one other Norfolk representative in our readership. Boy (RON) upwards - upset, people (FOLK), minor routes (B ROADS).
7. Silver - metal. Silicon (SI), fan (LoVER) without the 'O' - dismissing introduction of Other.
9. Think-tank - people who advise. Weak (THIN), king (K), thrash (TAN) another king (K).
14. Enclose - fence. The word play is 'the middle of which has to fail'. Fail is LOSE but I'm not certain about the 'ENC'. I think it's the middle of hENCe - but I don't feel completely happy about 'which' or 'which has' being a synonym of hence. Comments appreciated as I'm probably missing something. [On edit] Well done, posters all, for spotting ENC inside fence - so the definition providing part of the word play.
15. Island - Mallorca say. I malign (I SLANDer) without the 'er' - hesitation.
16. Goblin - mythical creature. Lose sight (GO BLINd) with daughter (D) leaving.
18. India - nation. Revealed in the clue - pla(IN DIA)gram.
Many thanks to Jackkt for standing in last week.
ACROSS
1. Robust - strong. Public transport (BUS) with nonsense (ROT) around.
4. Stones - rocks. On (ON) appearing in groups (SETS) backwards - revolutionary.
8. Inexact - imprecise. I (I) subsequently (NEXT) containing bill (AC).
10. Aural - associated with sound. A (A) wall painting (mURAL) without the 'M' - not medium.
11. Elope - run away. English (E), staff (POLE) turning - all backwards.
12. Implode - collapse. Mischievous character (IMP), seam in mine (LODE). Lode was not at the forefront of my vocabulary banks but it emerged from somewhere.
13. Breakneck - quick. Pause (BREAK), engage in amorous activity (NECK). Going off at somewhat of a tangent - I've been red-necking of late in the mid-West of USA - even caught a cat fish - which apparently qualifies me for the title.
17. Stamina - staying power. Produces cartoon films (ANIMATeS) backwards (returning) without the 'E' - no energy.
18. Curio - antique. Copper (CU) South American city (RIO).
20. Avoid - shun. Opera singer (DIVA) backwards (comeback) with nothing (O) inside.
21. Know-all - smart alec. (K)night, no form of defence (NO WALL).
22. Dismal - sad. Duke (D), is (IS), fellow (MALe) without the last letter - endlessly.
23. Person - individual. Noblemen (PEeRS) without the middle letter - losing heart, working (ON).
DOWN
2. Brecon Beacons - national park. Against (CON) inside and anagram (bad) of BACON BEERS.
3. Siamese - cat. Son (S), I (I) and an anagram (upset) of SEEM about a (A). This also works as an anagram of S, I, SEEM about A.
5. Tramp - vagrant. Male (M) in snare (TRAP).
6. Norfolk Broads - waterways. Good to see my home area cropping up - and I'm aware we have more than one other Norfolk representative in our readership. Boy (RON) upwards - upset, people (FOLK), minor routes (B ROADS).
7. Silver - metal. Silicon (SI), fan (LoVER) without the 'O' - dismissing introduction of Other.
9. Think-tank - people who advise. Weak (THIN), king (K), thrash (TAN) another king (K).
14. Enclose - fence. The word play is 'the middle of which has to fail'. Fail is LOSE but I'm not certain about the 'ENC'. I think it's the middle of hENCe - but I don't feel completely happy about 'which' or 'which has' being a synonym of hence. Comments appreciated as I'm probably missing something. [On edit] Well done, posters all, for spotting ENC inside fence - so the definition providing part of the word play.
15. Island - Mallorca say. I malign (I SLANDer) without the 'er' - hesitation.
16. Goblin - mythical creature. Lose sight (GO BLINd) with daughter (D) leaving.
18. India - nation. Revealed in the clue - pla(IN DIA)gram.