Bother immensely

EATAT

["Here’s a helpful hint for the clue \"Bother immensely\" with the answer \"EATAT\":\n\n**\"Pester persistently, like a nagging phrase might do.\"**\n\nThis hint suggests the idea of persistent annoyance (the definition) and subtly points toward a common phrase that fits the meaning, without giving away the exact letters or structure. It nudges the solver toward thinking of a phrase rather than a single word."]

The clue "Bother immensely" leading to the answer "EATAT" is an example of a cryptic crossword clue that uses wordplay. Here's how the clue breaks down: 1. **"Bother"**: This is the definition part of the clue. The answer, "EATAT," is a phrase that means to bother or annoy someone greatly. 2. **"Immensely"**: This is the wordplay part of the clue. It hints at a hidden word or anagram. In this case, "immensely" suggests that the letters of the answer are mixed up or jumbled. To see the connection, you can think of the phrase "EAT AT," which means to bother or annoy someone persistently. The word "immensely" indicates that the letters are jumbled, leading to the answer "EATAT." So, the clue is a cryptic definition with an anagram indicator, where "bother" defines the answer and "immensely" signals the anagram.