I would have nothing left but an icon (4)
I believe the answer is:
idol
'an icon' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'i would have nothing left' is the wordplay.
'would have' becomes 'd' (I've seen this in other clues).
'nothing' becomes 'O' (O resembles 0).
'left' becomes 'L' (common abbreviation).
'i'+'d'+'o'+'l'='IDOL'
'but' is the link.
(Other definitions for idol that I've seen before include "Subject of adoration, may be graven" , "A graven image, or a hero" , "Blue-eyed boy" , "Graven image or worshipped person" , "Image of a god (not icon)" .)