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Interesting set of comments. I sailed through this in record time. So I'm afraid I found it too easy. Sorry. Not being smug. Just surprised. A few too many phrases for my liking. Struggled to find COD but perhaps 11a for its message. FOI 9A. LOI 4D. Quite like the linked pair. Wishing you all a good day.

Just to add. Interesting to read that the green tick means complete and correct. I am sure I have finished Everyman sometimes with an error or alternative answer and still got the green tick. As, I think MP once said, "got all the words; just got to get them in the right order" or something like that.

And of course, it's a white tick on green circle!

And to prove my point I just changed one entry for an incorrect spelling and still got the white tick on the green circle. Well that's given me something to do for 15 minutes, now onto the chores.

Even though it is (grudgingly) supported by Google, 23a is a bit of a solecism.
I liked the anagram at 2d too - I've not seen it before.

Wouldn't 17a work better as a down clue?

Good spot Chris - if this was in a barred puzzle like the Listener or IQ where the clue numbers weren't given, this could be seen as a clear indication that it goes in the downs.

The rising across threw me a bit at the time. Sure to kick up a stink with those beasts of 225 regularly in rage.

Chris, case in point from yesterday's IQ ..

29d - Eden’s borders lifted to keep worker and sons in French city (6)

where "Eden's borders lifted" gives NE as you'd expect.

There have been some alphabetical jigsaws with two possible orientations, resolved by a clue only being possible as a down (or across) solution.