Crossword Genius

Exercising available scope, deals with things (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

copes

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'things' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'exercising available scope deals' is the wordplay.
'scope' can be anagrammed to 'COPES'.
However, I'm not clear how this is indicated.

'with' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for copes that I've seen before include "'Manages, gets by (5)'" , "Manages; church vestments" , "Somehow manages" , "Manages successfully, gets by" .)

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