Crossword Genius

It's typically hard when there's only bad meat left (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

metal

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'it's typically hard when there's only' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'bad meat left' is the wordplay.
'bad' indicates an anagram.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'meat' is an anagram of 'meta'.
'meta'+'l'='METAL'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for metal that I've seen before include "Aluminium or copper for instance" , "Lead, say" , "Iron, gold or silver, for example" , "Material detectable in the ground" , "barium?" .)

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