Best, by far, way to add colour? (3,2,3,5)
I believe the answer is:
put in the shade
'best by far way' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'add colour?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'add' could be 'putin' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'putin' is found in the answer.
'colour?' could be 'shade' (shade is a kind of colour) and 'shade' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'the' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for put in the shade that I've seen before include "in adding colour to painting" , "Excel" .)