Cut short, left work (3)
I believe the answer is:
lop
'cut short' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'left work' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'work' becomes 'op' (abbreviation for opus).
'l'+'op'='LOP'
(Other definitions for lop that I've seen before include "Cut away branches or twigs" , "Cut (e.g. branch off)" , "Hack" , "Prune, cut the top off" , "Remove branches from a tree" .)