Crossword Genius

Split from company at first, taking holiday, pocketing a grand (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cleavage

'split' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'company at first taking holiday pocketing a grand' is the wordplay.
'at first' says to take the initial letters.
'taking' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'holiday' becomes 'leave' (I've seen this before).
'pocketing' is an insertion indicator.
'grand' becomes 'G' (synonyms).
The first letter of 'company' is 'c'.
'a'+'g'='ag'
'leave' enclosing 'ag' is 'leavage'.
'c'+'leavage'='CLEAVAGE'

'from' is the link.

(Other definitions for cleavage that I've seen before include "Warm valley" , "Line formed by a groove between two parts" , "Splitting of crystals" , "bit of a bust-up" , "Bust split" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app