Crossword Genius

Hard up but bound to get paid? (8)

Ross

I think it could be either:

Which length description are you looking for?:

8

8,3,4
I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'hard up' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'bound to get paid?' is the wordplay.
'bound' suggests removing the centre (I've seen 'bounds of' mean this (the letters which form the boundaries of the word)).
'to' becomes 'shut' (I've seen this before).
'get paid?' becomes 'rapped' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'shut' with its centre taken out is 'st'.
'st'+'rapped'='STRAPPED'

'but' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for strapped that I've seen before include "affected by shortage" , "Secured; short of money" , "Like one who may need a loan" , "Needy - secured" , "Without, or very short of, money" .)

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