Orchestra and artist interrupting an unimpressive performer (4-3)
I believe the answer is:
also-ran
'unimpressive performer' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'orchestra and artist interrupting an' is the wordplay.
'orchestra' becomes 'LSO' (London Symphony Orchestra).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'interrupting' indicates putting letters inside.
'lso'+'ra'='lsora'
'lsora' going into 'an' is 'ALSO-RAN'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for also-ran that I've seen before include "Not placed among the leaders" , "Unplaced runner" , "Race loser" , "This horse doesn't win" , "Not placed in first three finishers" .)