Hot dog considered worthless experience (5)
I believe the answer is:
incur
'considered worthless experience' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'hot dog' is the wordplay.
'hot' becomes 'in' (both can mean fashionable).
'dog' becomes 'cur' (a cur is an aggressive or scruffy dog).
'in'+'cur'='INCUR'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for incur that I've seen before include "Become subject to (something unpleasant)" , "Bring on as a consequence" , "Become liable to (eg, a penalty)" , "Lay oneself open to" , "Bring upon oneself - be liable for" .)