Deviant tried filling a bag to create a distraction (9)
I believe the answer is:
sidetrack
'a distraction' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how they can define each other.
'deviant tried filling a bag' is the wordplay.
'deviant' indicates anagramming the letters.
'filling' is an insertion indicator.
'a bag' becomes 'sack' (both can mean a container).
'tried' anagrammed gives 'idetr'.
'idetr' placed inside 'sack' is 'SIDETRACK'.
'to create' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sidetrack that I've seen before include "Divert" , "lead away" , "draw away" , "Bit of railway" , "Distract (from big issue)" .)