One old coat for Sophie, tattered? This needs tying up (5,3)
I believe the answer is:
loose end
'this needs tying up' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'one old coat for sophie tattered?' is the wordplay.
'coat for' suggests removing the centre (the letters which coat the word).
'tattered?' indicates anagramming the letters (a tattered or broken form of the letters).
'sophie' with its middle taken out is 'se'.
'one'+'old'+'se'='oneoldse'
'oneoldse' is an anagram of 'LOOSE END'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for loose end that I've seen before include "unfinished work" , "Unsettled matter" , "Detail not yet settled" , "The bored, idle at one" , "'A detail not settled or explained (5,3)'" .)