About to return reward to cash in (6)
I believe the answer is:
redeem
'cash in' is the definition.
(redeeming is a kind of cashing in)
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for redeem that I've seen before include "Make amends (for)" , "Get back" , "Deposed Libyan dictator" , "Retrieve from sin or pawnshop" , "Pay off loans or promissory notes" .)