Dud mobile phone operator cleared out (2-5)
I believe the answer is:
no-hoper
'dud mobile' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'phone operator cleared out' is the wordplay.
'cleared' suggests removing the centre (the inside letters are cleared out).
'out' indicates anagramming the letters (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'operator' with its centre removed is 'or'.
'phone'+'or'='phoneor'
'phoneor' is an anagram of 'NO-HOPER'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for no-hoper that I've seen before include "definite loser" , "Person expected to fail" , "One with no prospects" , "Useless person" , "Lost cause" .)