A dodgy solicitor entertaining earl dined in restaurant (3,3)
I believe the answer is:
ate out
'dined in restaurant' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to consumption as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'a dodgy solicitor entertaining earl' is the wordplay.
'dodgy solicitor' becomes 'tout' (someone who solicits business. I am not sure about the 'dodgy' bit.).
'entertaining' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'earl' becomes 'e'.
'tout' placed around 'e' is 'teout'.
'a'+'teout'='ATE OUT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ate out that I've seen before include "didn't cook at home?" , "'Didn't dine at home (3,3)'" , "Had dinner in restaurant" .)