Street gossip stops friend returning just in time (4-4)
I believe the answer is:
last-gasp
'in time' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'street gossip stops friend returning' is the wordplay.
'street' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'gossip' becomes 'gas' (I've seen this before).
'stops' indicates putting letters inside (stopping can mean blocking a gap).
'friend' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'returning' is a reversal indicator.
'pal' reversed gives 'lap'.
'st'+'gas'='stgas'
'stgas' inserted inside 'lap' is 'LAST-GASP'.
'just' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for last-gasp that I've seen before include "Final exhalation before death" , "Final breath or done at the last possible moment of effort" , "Done in desperation (or at the point of death?)" , "Finalk expiration, moment of death" , "Remnant of energy or final exhalation" .)