Wise to retain a computer program for dirty work? (8)
I believe the answer is:
sabotage
'dirty work?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'wise to retain a computer program' is the wordplay.
'wise' becomes 'sage' (similar in meaning).
'to retain' is an insertion indicator.
'computer program' becomes 'bot'.
'a'+'bot'='abot'
'sage' going around 'abot' is 'SABOTAGE'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sabotage that I've seen before include "enemy action" , "Got a base (anag.)" , "Treachery!" , "spoil things" , "Deliberately destroy" .)