Regret taking on Liberal before run as PM? (5)
I believe the answer is:
ruler
'pm?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'regret taking on liberal before run' is the wordplay.
'regret' becomes 'rue' ('rue' can be a synonym of 'regret').
'taking' indicates putting letters inside.
'on liberal' becomes 'l' (abbreviation. I am not sure about the 'on' bit.**).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'run' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'rue' going around 'l' is 'rule'.
'rule'+'r'='RULER'
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ruler that I've seen before include "that should go straight" , "Sovereign, for example" , "Monarch - drafting tool" , "Head of state" , "Strip with straight edge to measure" .)