Scheme to keep running by a man about town (7)
I believe the answer is:
playboy
'man about town' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'scheme to keep running by a' is the wordplay.
'scheme' becomes 'ploy' (I have seen 'Tactical scheme' mean 'ploy' so perhaps 'scheme' could also mean 'ploy').
'to keep' indicates putting letters inside.
'running' is an anagram indicator (the letters run around to different places).
'by'+'a'='bya'
'bya' with letters rearranged gives 'ayb'.
'ploy' enclosing 'ayb' is 'PLAYBOY'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for playboy that I've seen before include "Casanova" , "American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine" , "Rich pleasure-seeking man" , "Wealthy pleasure-seeker" , "Male pleasure seeker" .)