In the open, time's cut too, (7)
I believe the answer is:
overtly
'in' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adverbs. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'open time's cut too' is the wordplay.
'open time' becomes 't' (abbreviation. I am not sure about the 'open' bit.).
'cut' means one lot of letters goes inside another (some letters cut their way into a word).
'too' becomes 'overly' (synonyms).
't' going into 'overly' is 'OVERTLY'.
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for overtly that I've seen before include "Obviously" , "in the public eye" , "public fashion" , "So that anyone can see" , "In an open manner" .)