Ring up pal involved in stupid run-out (9)
I believe the answer is:
unpopular
'ring up pal involved in stupid run-out' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'ring up pal involved in stupid run-out' is the wordplay.
'ring' becomes 'o' (**).
'involved' indicates anagramming the letters (involved can mean confusing or complex).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'stupid' indicates an anagram (in a stupid order).
'out' indicates putting letters inside.
'up'+'pal'='uppal'
'uppal' with letters rearranged gives '[uppal]'.
'run' is an anagram of 'unr'.
'[uppal]' going within 'unr' is 'un[uppal]r'.
'o' placed inside 'unppular' is 'UNPOPULAR'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for unpopular that I've seen before include "out of love?" , "Generally disliked by people" , "having few friends" , "not favoured" , "Not generally liked or enjoyed" .)