Clean mess when Englishman returns aloft (3,2)
I believe the answer is:
mop up
'clean mess' is the definition.
'mop up' can be an answer for 'clean' (to mop something up is to clean it). I'm unsure of the 'mess' bit.
'englishman returns aloft' is the wordplay.
'englishman' becomes 'pom' (pom is an Australian term for an English person).
'returns' says the letters should be written backwards.
'aloft' becomes 'up' (up above).
'pom' reversed gives 'mop'.
'mop'+'up'='MOP-UP'
'when' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mop up that I've seen before include "Swab" , "Finish a task, clear away remnants" , "polish off" , "Complete final stage (of a task)" , "Finish off a task, clean away remnants" .)