Pretext to get fellows heard (5)
I believe the answer is:
guise
'pretext' is the definition.
(I know that pretext can be written as guise)
'fellows heard' is the wordplay.
'fellows' becomes 'guys' (I've seen this in another clue).
'heard' shows a homophone (sound like).
'guys' is a homophone of 'GUISE'.
'to get' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for guise that I've seen before include "Demeanour" , "Show" , "Appearance, semblance" , "General appearance" , "Mask" .)