Spooner's providing canal-side labour for ridiculous figure (8,5)
I believe the answer is:
laughing stock
'spooner's' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'canal-side labour for ridiculous figure' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'side' could be 'l' (abbreviation for left) and 'l' is present in the answer.
'for' could be 'to' (eg both can mean 'in the opinion of') and 'to' is found within the answer.
'figure' could be 'c' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'c' is found in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'providing' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for laughing stock that I've seen before include "Butt of ridicule" , "Target of ridicule" , "inhabitants of funny farm?" , "Object of ridicule" , "Object to joke" .)