Bound to be a clever ruse (4)
I believe the answer is:
sure
'bound to' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'a clever ruse' is the wordplay.
'a clever' indicates an anagram.
'ruse' anagrammed gives 'SURE'.
'be' is the link.
(Other definitions for sure that I've seen before include "Undoubtedly true" , "The old sewer" , "certainly in the USA" , "Safe" , "Agreed" .)