Puts out time to go behind actor (7)
I believe the answer is:
upstage
'go behind actor' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'puts out time' is the wordplay.
'out' is an anagram indicator (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'time' becomes 'age' (an age is a period of time).
'puts' is an anagram of 'upst'.
'upst'+'age'='UPSTAGE'
'to' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for upstage that I've seen before include "Take attention from (another actor)" , "Pugs eat (anag.)" , "Outshine" , "Divert attention from another as actor might in play" , "eclipse" .)