Damsel in distress - about time to break up! (9)
I believe the answer is:
dismantle
'break up' is the definition.
('dismantle' can be a synonym of 'break up')
'damsel in distress about time' is the wordplay.
'distress' indicates anagramming the letters.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'time' becomes 't'.
'damsel'+'in'='damselin'
'damselin' is an anagram of 'dismanle'.
'dismanle' enclosing 't' is 'DISMANTLE'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for dismantle that I've seen before include "Take to pieces" , "Pull to pieces" , "Take apart" , "Unrig" , "Take to bits" .)