Check if given free rein, unfortunately tense inside (9)
I believe the answer is:
interfere
'check' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'free rein unfortunately tense inside' is the wordplay.
'unfortunately' indicates anagramming the letters.
'tense' becomes 't' (abbreviation used in many dictionaries).
'inside' indicates putting letters inside.
'free'+'rein'='freerein'
'freerein' with letters rearranged gives 'inerfere'.
'inerfere' enclosing 't' is 'INTERFERE'.
'if given' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for interfere that I've seen before include "Meddle in someone else's business" , "Attempt" , "Intruder does" , "Stick one's oar in" , "Meddle, butt in" .)