Soldier after playful life in the woods? (5)
I believe the answer is:
fungi
'the woods?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't understand how one could define the other.
'soldier after playful life' is the wordplay.
'soldier' becomes 'GI' (GI can mean a US soldier).
'after' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'playful life' becomes 'fun' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'gi' after 'fun' is 'FUNGI'.
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for fungi that I've seen before include "Plants reproducing by spores" , "Magic mushrooms perhaps" , "rusts?" , "Group with some killers" , "Toadstools, say" .)