Hands me back device and returns look (9)
I believe the answer is:
employees
'hands' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'me back device and returns look' is the wordplay.
'back' is a reversal indicator.
'device' becomes 'ploy' (I've seen this before).
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'returns' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'look' becomes 'see'.
'me' back-to-front is 'em'.
'see' reversed gives 'ees'.
'em'+'ploy'+'ees'='EMPLOYEES'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for employees that I've seen before include "Workforce" , "People on the payroll" , "Workers" .)