Plastic card in mess, ATM ejecting it? (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
hard cash
'atm ejecting it?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'plastic card in mess' is the wordplay.
'plastic' indicates an anagram (plastic can mean easily moulded).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'mess' becomes 'hash' (as in making a hash of something).
'card' anagrammed gives 'rdca'.
'rdca' going inside 'hash' is 'HARD CASH'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hard cash that I've seen before include "Ready money" , "Coins and banknotes - not a cheque" , "Not plastic!" , "Coins and notes, not cheques or promises" .)