Crossword Genius

Getting in a wild pet is useless (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

inept

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

'useless' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'getting in a wild pet' is the wordplay.
'getting' becomes 'in' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'a wild' indicates anagramming the letters.
'pet' with letters rearranged gives 'ept'.
'in' going inside 'ept' is 'INEPT'.

'is' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for inept that I've seen before include "Wanting" , "Unsuitable, clumsy" , "Incompetent or gauche" , "Hopeless; bungling" , "Unskilful, awkward" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app