Crossword Genius

Cases of underwear with lace inside (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

patients

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'cases' is the definition.
(I know this)

'underwear with lace inside' is the wordplay.
'underwear' becomes 'pants' (I've seen this before).
'with' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'lace inside' becomes 'tie' (I've seen this in another clue. I am not sure about the 'inside' bit.).
'pants' enclosing 'tie' is 'PATIENTS'.

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for patients that I've seen before include "People under the doctor" , "They're treated" , "Doctors' customers" , "People suffering" , "cases" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times.
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