The local freelance is impossible to shake off (8)
I believe the answer is:
barnacle
'shake off' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'the local freelance is impossible' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'local' could be 'bar' (local can mean someone's local pub) and 'bar' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for barnacle that I've seen before include "One reluctant to leave" , "Crusty lodger" , "type of goose" , "Crustacean that attaches to submerged surfaces" , "Clinging sort" .)