Crossword Genius

Cut off bits of fruit to aid plant in trouble (3,3,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

top and tail

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'cut off bits of fruit' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether it can be defined by this definition.

'to aid plant in trouble' is the wordplay.
'in trouble' indicates an anagram.
'aid'+'plant'='aidplant'
'aidplant' anagrammed gives 'pandtail'.
'to'+'pandtail'='TOP AND TAIL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for top and tail that I've seen before include "quickly see to baby" , "Scamp washing baby" , "cursory wash" , "Prepare (vegetables)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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