Won’t work when you try to light it (6)
I believe the answer is:
strike
'it' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for strike that I've seen before include "Deliver a blow" , "Hit out in industrial dispute" , "Hit the labour withdrawal" , "An industrial dispute, pickets out" , "Industrial dispute - everybody out" .)