In extremes of torpidity, a strange thing to drink? (5)
I believe the answer is:
toddy
'to drink?' is the definition.
(toddy is a type of drink)
'in extremes of torpidity a strange' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'extremes of' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (only the letters at the extremes of the word).
'a strange' becomes 'odd' (I've seen this in another clue).
'torpidity' with its middle taken out is 'ty'.
'ty' placed around 'odd' is 'TODDY'.
'thing' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for toddy that I've seen before include "Hot drink of alcohol" , "Drink made with spirits and hot water" , "Hot mixed drink" , "Hot drink made with rum or whisky" , "Hot drink of spirits with sugar and spices" .)