Cut off air supply when Lambert's trapped by alien (8)
I believe the answer is:
strangle
'cut off air supply' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'lambert's trapped by alien' is the wordplay.
'lambert' becomes 'l' (synonyms).
'trapped by' indicates putting letters inside.
'alien' becomes 'strange' (synonyms).
'l' going within 'strange' is 'STRANGLE'.
'when' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for strangle that I've seen before include "Subdue" , "Asphyxiate, throttle" , "Tanglers - asphyxiate them" , "Finish off" , "Suppress (an impulse)" .)