Did degrading act to get around test (7)
I believe the answer is:
demoted
'did degrading' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'act to get around test' is the wordplay.
'act' becomes 'deed' (deed is a kind of act).
'to get around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'test' becomes 'MOT' (as in an MOT test for a vehicle).
'deed' enclosing 'mot' is 'DEMOTED'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for demoted that I've seen before include "Relegated" , "Put down in rank" , "Reduced in rank" , "Slippery fish" , "Downgraded" .)