Surrounded by low-pitched backing, a harp’s played like a lute? (4-6)
I believe the answer is:
pear-shaped
'like a lute?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'surrounded by low-pitched backing a harp's played' is the wordplay.
'surrounded by' means one lot of letters goes inside another (I've seen this in other clues).
'low-pitched' becomes 'deep' (similar in meaning).
'backing' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'played' indicates anagramming the letters (letters playing around).
'deep' backwards is 'peed'.
'a'+'harps'='aharps'
'aharps' with letters rearranged gives 'arshap'.
'peed' enclosing 'arshap' is 'PEAR-SHAPED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pear-shaped that I've seen before include "(Go) horribly wrong; like three Satie pieces" , "Fat at one end and thin at the other - all wrong!" , "Bottom-heavy: (gone) wrong" , "With hips very wide compared to the upper body" .)