Telephonist who works in the theatre? (8)
I believe the answer is:
operator
'telephonist' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'works in the theatre?' is the wordplay.
'works in' becomes 'opera' ('opera' is an alternative plural of 'opus'. I am not sure about the 'in' bit.).
'the' becomes 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects).
'theatre?' becomes 'or' (OR for Operating Room - surgical theatre).
'opera'+'t'+'or'='OPERATOR'
'who' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for operator that I've seen before include "Switchboard employee" , "Manipulator" , "Person running a business" , "Poor rate (anag.)" , "Mathematical symbol" .)