17 across
An
essential
for
burner
of
midnight
oil
hit
spot
(9)
An essential for burner of midnight oil hit spot (9)
hints
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checks
0
hints
The definition is at the beginning of the clue.
How the clue works
The whole phrase An essential for burner of midnight oil defines LAMPLIGHT, the light someone stays up working by. Build it from LAM, meaning to hit, followed by PLIGHT, meaning a difficult spot or predicament, running them together to give the answer.