Tear up unfashionable husband's old cotton belt? (4,5)
I believe the answer is:
deep south
'old cotton belt?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'tear up unfashionable husband's' is the wordplay.
'tear' becomes 'speed' (I've seen this in another clue).
'up' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'unfashionable' becomes 'out' (similar in meaning).
'husband' becomes 'h' (abbreviation).
'speed' back-to-front is 'deeps'.
'deeps'+'out'+'h'='DEEP SOUTH'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for deep south that I've seen before include "part of US" , "part of America" , "Region including Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana" .)