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Conundrum about series that was out in the mid-afternoon? (3-8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tea-strainer

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'conundrum about series that was out in the mid-afternoon?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.

This is all the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tea-strainer that I've seen before include "Catcher of leaves" , "What stops leaves getting through" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.
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