Utilise flexible measures to gain one's ends? (4,3,5)
I believe the answer is:
bend the rules
'utilise flexible' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'measures to gain one's ends?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'measures' could be 'rules' (rule is a kind of measure) and 'rules' is present in the answer.
'one' could be 'the' (both can introduce a definite example of something) and 'the' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'bend' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
(Another definition for bend the rules that I've seen is " look for unfair advantage".)