Chokes eating English plums (5)

I believe the answer is:

gages

'plums' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'chokes eating english' is the wordplay.
'chokes' becomes 'gags' ('gag' can be a synonym of 'choke').
'eating' indicates putting letters inside.
'english' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'gags' going around 'e' is 'GAGES'.

(Another definition for gages that I've seen is " Pledges".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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