Tools locked in alongside spring, stopping mechanism (5,6)
I believe the answer is:
brake system
'mechanism' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'tools locked in alongside spring stopping' is the wordplay.
'tools' becomes 'rakes' (rake is a kind of tool).
'locked in' is an insertion indicator.
'alongside' becomes 'by' (I've seen this in other clues).
'spring stopping' becomes 'stem' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'rakes' put inside 'by' is 'brakesy'.
'brakesy'+'stem'='BRAKE SYSTEM'
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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