Be idle perhaps, but ready to eat (6)
I believe the answer is:
edible
'ready to eat' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'be idle perhaps' is the wordplay.
'perhaps' indicates anagramming the letters.
'be'+'idle'='beidle'
'beidle' with letters rearranged gives 'EDIBLE'.
'but' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for edible that I've seen before include "Fit to be consumed" , "Belied (anag)" , "Fit to eat" , "Fit to be used as food" , "hoping dinner will be this?" .)