Safe place to lay traps if time at the end (4)
I believe the answer is:
nest
'safe place' is the definition.
'nest' can be an answer for 'place' (I have seen 'Place of retreat' mean 'nest' so perhaps 'place' could also mean 'nest'). I am unsure of the 'safe' bit.
'lay traps if time at the end' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'time' could be 'est' (EST is an example) and 'est' is present in the answer.
A single letter 'n' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for nest that I've seen before include "Structure for laying eggs" , "In which to lay eggs or give birth" , "Bird's retreat" , "Robin's home" , "Cosy retreat" .)