Crossword Genius

Advance payment had initially riled workers' nemesis? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

anteater

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'workers' nemesis?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.

'advance payment had initially riled' is the wordplay.
'advance payment' becomes 'ante' (I've seen this in another clue).
'had' becomes 'ate' ('have' can mean 'eat').
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'riled' is 'r'.
'ante'+'ate'+'r'='ANTEATER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for anteater that I've seen before include "Insect consumer" , "animal (this one?)" , "Long tongued creature" , "Animal with a long snout and sticky tongue" , "Long-snouted insectivore" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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