Just the thing to wear for patients without pants (3)
I believe the answer is:
tie
'pants' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'just the thing to wear for patients without' is the wordplay.
'TIE' is hidden in amongst the letters.
However, I am unsure how this is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tie that I've seen before include "11 [KNOT]" , "Almost level" , "Bind; knot" , "Drawn score" , "Restrict; link" .)