Search is around country for underwear (12)
I believe the answer is:
combinations
'for underwear' is the definition.
(combinations means an old-fashioned undergarment)
'search is around country' is the wordplay.
'search' becomes 'comb' (combing is a kind of searching).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'country' becomes 'nation' (synonyms).
'is' going around 'nation' is 'inations'.
'comb'+'inations'='COMBINATIONS'
I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution?
Install my app