Crossword Genius

Removed from article -- rotten flesh in stock (3,3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

off-the-shelf

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'removed' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'article rotten flesh in stock' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'article' could be 'the' (the definite article) and 'the' is present in the answer.
'rotten' could be 'off' (rotten food is 'off') and 'off' is present in the answer.
an anagram of 'flesh' is 'shelf' which is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'from' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for off-the-shelf that I've seen before include "Available, in stock" , "Readily available" , "Ready-made" , "Not specially designed but taken from stock" , "(Bought) ready made" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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