Under attack, fared badly on the street (7)
I believe the answer is:
strafed
'under attack' is the definition.
The answer and definition are different parts of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs can occasionally define each other.
'fared badly on the street' is the wordplay.
'badly' is an anagram indicator (letters in the wrong order).
'on' indicates putting letters inside (as in clothing 'on' a person).
'the street' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'fared' anagrammed gives 'rafed'.
'rafed' placed around 'st' is 'STRAFED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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