Beasts putting money before church flowers (12)
I believe the answer is:
rhinoceroses
'beasts' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both animals as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'money before church flowers' is the wordplay.
'money' becomes 'rhino' (old-fashioned slang term for money).
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'church' becomes 'ce' (abbreviation for Church of England).
'flowers' becomes 'roses' (rose is a type of flower).
'rhino'+'ce'+'roses'='RHINOCEROSES'
'putting' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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