Do -- or do without hot food? (3,3,7)
I believe the answer is:
cut the mustard
'do' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'do without hot food?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'hot' could be 'mustard' (I've seen this before) and 'mustard' is found within the answer.
'food?' could be 'cut' (cut is a kind of food) and 'cut' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'the' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'or' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cut the mustard that I've seen before include "met required standards" , "Harvested brassica plant" , "Make a favourable impression" , "pass inspection" , "Reach a required standard" .)