Is it TONGUE?
Yes! Your turn Oly.
Double meaning. Synonym for language and in Oxford (type of shoe)
Ahh! I was thinking of ox tongue, as in something offal! But I couldn’t figure out how the “ford” part fit in. Nice one!
Off TONGUE:
Some GIs get caught up in the allure of insurgent warfare (8)
GUERILLA (GI + ALLURE*)
+++++
Mets’ National collapse leads to sadness and tears. (12)
LAMENTATIONS (anagram)
Rap mogul on trial for disturbing lucid hair groomers. (4, 5)
SEAN COMBS
+++++
Tons of phlegm come back out (4)
SNOT
Very unpleasant condition has cross replaced with science fiction publisher for Christopher Wallace film. (9)
NOTORIOUS (noxious - x + Tor)
+++++++
Debts start in our usual spending (4)
IOUS (first letters)
American emergency room mishap leads to common IT issue. (4, 5)
USER ERROR (US+ER)
++++++
Watchman’s personality issues (9)
RORSCHACH
Sly Arab heckler perplexes NBA star. (7, 7)
CHARLES BARKLEY (anagram sly Arab heckler)
+++++
Speaking of hoops players, yours truly has quite the reputation all over the globe (7)
EYEBALL (I ball)
The French gangsta and his circle arrive at toy-themed amusement park. (8)
LEGOLAND (LE + Gangster Original + LAND)
++++++
Got all mixed up when I ran road race in the Pyrenees (7)
Got all mixed up when I ran road race in a small country in the Pyrenees (7)
ANDORRA (anagram)
Tease a pastry to the beggar child. (10)
RAGAMUFFIN
+++++
I was told my floatation device was surrounded by Her Majesty’s subway (5,4)
INNER TUBE (in her tube)
Leave, Iowa! Remove that natural logarithm while you’re at it, but leave the houseplant. (7)
BEGONIA (Begone-E+IA)
I felt that I became a little lighter after reading the pentameter. (6)