Crossword Genius

Temporary digs for Jonah Hill are oddly messy after a week (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

whale

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'temporary digs for jonah' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'hill are oddly messy after a week' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'messy' indicates an anagram.
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a week' becomes 'w' (abbreviation).
'hill'+'are'='hillare'
The alternating letters of 'hillare' are 'hlae'.
'hlae' anagrammed gives 'hale'.
'hale' put after 'w' is 'WHALE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for whale that I've seen before include "Large animal" , "Maybe humpback" , "Patch of oil, on water" , "Biblical swallower of Jonah" , "It breathes through a blowhole" .)

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