Like gutted halibut, fish in flat dishes (8)
I believe the answer is:
ashtrays
'flat dishes' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'like gutted halibut fish' is the wordplay.
'like' becomes 'as'.
'gutted' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (to gut something is to remove its insides).
'fish' becomes 'rays' (I've seen this before).
'halibut' with its centre taken out is 'ht'.
'as'+'ht'+'rays'='ASHTRAYS'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ashtrays that I've seen before include "butts in these?" , "smokers' necessities" , "Receptacles for smokers" , "Receptacles removed from pub" , "where fags end up" .)