A check on the present demand for bread (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
roll call
'a check' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'the present demand for bread' is the wordplay.
'the present demand' becomes 'call' (call is a kind of demand. I am not sure about the 'present' bit.).
'for' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'bread' becomes 'roll' (roll is a kind of bread).
'call' after 'roll' is 'ROLL-CALL'.
'on' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for roll call that I've seen before include "Check for presence" , "Reading out of a list of names to check attendance" , "Reading of list of names to establish attendance" , "Calling out of list of names" , "Register presence" .)