Visited Ivy with a drug-smuggling solicitor? (3,3)
I believe the answer is:
ate out
'visited ivy' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are past participle verbs, I can't understand how one could define the other.
'a drug-smuggling solicitor?' is the wordplay.
'drug' becomes 'e' (E is another name for ecstasy).
'smuggling' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are smuggled in).
'solicitor?' becomes 'tout' (someone who solicits business).
'e' placed into 'tout' is 'teout'.
'a'+'teout'='ATE OUT'
'with' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ate out that I've seen before include "'Didn't dine at home (3,3)'" , "didn't cook at home?" , "Had dinner in restaurant" .)