Train badly broken - dread not starting - is this a way to solve the problem? (2,5,3,5)
I believe the answer is:
by trial and error
'this a way to solve the problem?' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech.
'train badly broken dread not starting' is the wordplay.
'broken' indicates anagramming the letters.
'dread' becomes 'terror' (synonyms).
'not starting' means to remove the first letter.
'terror' with its initial letter removed is 'error'.
'train'+'badly'='trainbadly'
'trainbadly' with letters rearranged gives 'bytrialand'.
'bytrialand'+'error'='BY TRIAL AND ERROR'
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for by trial and error that I've seen before include "Experimentally" , "using past miscarriage of justice?" .)