The imp leaves quietly for a hustle (4)
I believe the answer is:
scam
'a hustle' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'the imp leaves quietly' is the wordplay.
'the imp' becomes 'scamp' (synonyms).
'leaves' suggests deleting specific letters.
'quietly' becomes 'p' (p for piano and quiet).
'scamp' with 'p' taken out is 'SCAM'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scam that I've seen before include "rook" , "Dodgy business" , "Fraudulent trick or swindle" , "fiddle" , "A slangy swindle or fraud" .)