Put one’s foot down on backing the ban on animals (4,2)
I believe the answer is:
step on
'ban on animals' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I can't see how one could define the other.
'put one's foot down on backing' is the wordplay.
'put one's foot down' becomes 'step' (I've seen this in another clue).
'backing' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'step'+'on'='STEP ON'
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for step on that I've seen before include "Behave harshly towards" , "crush" .)