Bear’s shown up in circus apparatus (4)
I believe the answer is:
hoop
'circus apparatus' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'bear's shown up' is the wordplay.
'bear' becomes 'pooh' (Winnie the Pooh).
'shown up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, letters go up).
'pooh' backwards is 'HOOP'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hoop that I've seen before include "Croquet target" , "Circular band, in basketball, say" , "Circle, ring" , "Ring of wood - arch at croquet" , "Circlet" .)