Starts to burn lip and edges of eyebrow as they put out the candle? (4)
I believe the answer is:
blew
'put out the candle?' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'starts to burn lip and edges of eyebrow' is the wordplay.
'starts to' indicates taking the first letters.
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'edges of' suggests removing the centre.
'eyebrow' with its centre removed is 'ew'.
The initial letters of 'burn lip' is 'bl'.
'bl'+'ew'='BLEW'
'as they' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for blew that I've seen before include "Spent (money) recklessly" , "spent freely" , "Played (a horn)" , "Puffed and panted" , "Sounded (a horn)" .)