Worked on transforming the cottage interior (3,2)
I believe the answer is:
got at
'worked' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'transforming the cottage interior' is the wordplay.
'transforming' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'interior' says to take the centre.
The centre of 'cottage' is 'ottag'.
'ottag' is an anagram of 'GOT AT'.
'on' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for got at that I've seen before include "Nobbled" , "Unfairly influenced" , "Criticised" , "Attacked verbally" .)