Embarrassed-looking writer returned file (6)
I believe the answer is:
binder
'file' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'embarrassed-looking writer returned' is the wordplay.
'embarrassed-looking' becomes 'red' (I've seen this in another clue).
'writer' becomes 'nib' (something which writes).
'returned' is a reversal indicator.
'red'+'nib'='rednib'
'rednib' backwards is 'BINDER'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for binder that I've seen before include "One that secures" , "Holder for magazines" , "Cover for holding loose papers together" , "Cover for loose sheets of paper" , "worker in Morocco" .)