Laying off business team so unexpectedly (14)
I believe the answer is:
abstemiousness
'laying' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'business team so unexpectedly' is the wordplay.
'unexpectedly' is an anagram indicator.
'business'+'team'+'so'='businessteamso'
'businessteamso' with letters rearranged gives 'ABSTEMIOUSNESS'.
'off' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Times.
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