I had a meal after work and something to help me sleep (6)
I believe the answer is:
opiate
'something to help me sleep' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'i had a meal after work' is the wordplay.
'had a meal' becomes 'ate' (ate a meal).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'work' becomes 'op' (operation, work done in an operating theatre).
'i'+'ate'='iate'
'iate' after 'op' is 'OPIATE'.
'and' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for opiate that I've seen before include "Preparation made from poppy derivative" , "Type of drug" , "Sedating drug" , "Drug inducing a false sense of contentment" , "drug to aid rest" .)