Crossword Genius

BBC boss wearing electronic tag has time for mate (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

endgame

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

'time for mate' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'bbc boss wearing electronic tag' is the wordplay.
'bbc boss' becomes 'DG' (short for director-general of the BBC).
'wearing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'electronic' becomes 'e' (as in e-mail or e-books).
'tag' becomes 'name' (I've seen this in another clue).
'e'+'name'='ename'
'dg' put inside 'ename' is 'ENDGAME'.

'has' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for endgame that I've seen before include "final moves" , "Denouement (chess)" , "Beckett play" , "close to board meeting" , "closing stage" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent and The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app