Cut short the work on credit (4)
I believe the answer is:
crop
'cut short' is the definition.
('crop' can be a synonym of 'cut short')
'the work on credit' is the wordplay.
'the work' becomes 'op' (abbreviation for opus).
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'credit' becomes 'cr'.
'op' put after 'cr' is 'CROP'.
(Other definitions for crop that I've seen before include "farm produce" , "Type of whip" , "Yield from cultivation" , "Short haircut" , "Harvest yield" .)