Left Verdi heroine with team put in reserve? (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
laid aside
'in reserve?' is the definition.
The answer and definition are not the same part of speech. However, adjectives and past participle verbs occasionally mean the same thing.
'left verdi heroine with team' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'verdi heroine' becomes 'aida' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'team' becomes 'side' (both can mean a sports team).
'l'+'aida'+'side'='LAID ASIDE'
'put' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for laid aside that I've seen before include "on the shelf?" , "Waiting for possible employment" .)