Something snappy held up by protagonists! (5)
I believe the answer is:
gator
'something snappy' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'held up by protagonists' is the wordplay.
'up by' is a reversal indicator.
'held' indicates a hidden word.
'rotag' is hidden in the letters of 'protagonists'.
'rotag' written backwards gives 'GATOR'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gator that I've seen before include "beast?" , "Short reptile" , "dangerous reptile shortly" , "one snaps in America" , "US snapper" .)