Came across hobos outside making illicit booze (5)
I believe the answer is:
meths
'making illicit booze' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'came across hobos outside' is the wordplay.
'came' becomes 'met' (meeting is a kind of coming).
'across' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (across can mean on).
'outside' means to remove the middle letters.
'hobos' with its centre removed is 'hs'.
'met'+'hs'='METHS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for meths that I've seen before include "Methylated spirits (colloq.)" , "Fuel" , "Spirit" , "unsuitable alcohol" , "Violet-coloured alcohol" .)