Cover on board with fancy metal cap (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
place mat
'cover on board' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'fancy metal cap' is the wordplay.
'fancy' indicates an anagram.
'metal'+'cap'='metalcap'
'metalcap' anagrammed gives 'PLACE MAT'.
'with' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for place mat that I've seen before include "base for drink?" , "China's possible position" , "It's put under a plate" , "Plates go on one" , "Table protector" .)