Stick a ring in the road (3)
I believe the answer is:
rod
'stick' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a ring in the road' is the wordplay.
'a ring' becomes 'o' (letter resembling a ring).
'in the' indicates putting letters inside.
'road' becomes 'rd' (abbreviation).
'o' placed within 'rd' is 'ROD'.
(Other definitions for rod that I've seen before include "Cane used for flogging" , "Long bar or pole" , "Instrument of punishment" , "Thin straight bar" , "that most anglers use" .)