Pretend to allow to board (3,2)
I believe the answer is:
let on
'pretend' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'to allow to board' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'to' is found in the answer.
'allow' could be 'le' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'le' is found within the answer.
A single letter 'n' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for let on that I've seen before include "Be revealing" , "Allow to board, or pretend" , "Permitted to board" , "Tell me" , "Spill the beans" .)