Larks returned to catch cuckoo after sandwich crusts (11)
I believe the answer is:
shenanigans
'larks' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'returned to catch cuckoo after sandwich crusts' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'cuckoo' could be 'ani' (ani is a kind of cuckoo) and 'ani' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shenanigans that I've seen before include "Mischievous trickery" , "Mischief; dishonest activity" , "Monkey business" , "dirty work!" .)