I leave the chief cook in charge (4)
I believe the answer is:
chef
'cook in charge' is the definition.
'chef' can be an answer for 'cook' (both can mean someone who cooks). I am not sure about the 'in charge' bit.
'i leave the chief' is the wordplay.
'leave' suggests deleting specific letters.
'chief' with 'i' taken out is 'CHEF'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chef that I've seen before include "Principal cook" , "One who prepares courses" , "French master" , "Head cook in a restaurant" , "who has a set of knives?" .)