Youngster hanging around stores getting tips off little spoiled child (4,3)
I believe the answer is:
mall rat
'youngster hanging around stores' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether it can be defined by this definition.
'tips off little spoiled child' is the wordplay.
'tips off' means to remove the first letter (I've seen 'tip off' mean this (the first letter or 'tip' is removed)).
'little' becomes 'small' (similar in meaning).
'spoiled child' becomes 'rat' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'small' with its initial letter taken away is 'mall'.
'mall'+'rat'='MALL RAT'
'getting' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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