Crossword Genius

Telephone about file and hand-held tool (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trowel

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'hand-held tool' is the definition.
'trowel' can be an answer for 'tool' (trowel is a kind of tool). I'm not certain of the 'hand-held' bit.

'telephone about file' is the wordplay.
'telephone' becomes 'tel' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'file' becomes 'row' (a file is a row of squares e.g. on a chess board).
'tel' going around 'row' is 'TROWEL'.

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for trowel that I've seen before include "One spreads" , "Brickie holds it" , "Small hand tool for garden" , "Short-handled gardening tool" , "Small tool for scooping or spreading" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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