Hooligan has tree to strike (4,3)
I believe the answer is:
lash out
'strike' is the definition.
'hooligan has tree' is the wordplay.
'hooligan' becomes 'lout' (both can mean an aggressive person).
'has' indicates putting letters inside.
'tree' becomes 'ash tree' (ash is a kind of tree).
'lout' going around 'ash' is 'LASH OUT'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for lash out that I've seen before include "Vigorously attack" , "Spend lots" , "React aggressively" , "Become suddenly aggressive" , "Spend extravagantly" .)