Crossword Genius

Bound to cut loose in the end (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lope

'bound' is the definition.
(to lope is to travel with bounding stride or bound)

'cut loose in the end' is the wordplay.
'cut' becomes 'lop' (lopping is a kind of cutting).
'in the end' says to take the final letters.
The final letter of 'loose' is 'e'.
'lop'+'e'='LOPE'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for lope that I've seen before include "Run boundingly" , "Run along easily" , "Run with long steps carrying pole" , "Run with long bounding steps" , "Stride along" .)

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