Holding back of plate, wash dirt off -- in this?
I believe the answer is:
dishwater
'this?' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'holding back of plate wash dirt off' is the wordplay.
'holding' indicates putting letters inside.
'back of' suggests the final letters.
'off' indicates an anagram.
The last letter of 'plate' is 'e'.
'wash'+'dirt'='washdirt'
'washdirt' is an anagram of 'dishwatr'.
'e' inserted within 'dishwatr' is 'DISHWATER'.
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for dishwater that I've seen before include "Sink liquid" , "Weak or soiled liquid" , "Ultimately it could go down the sink" , "Dirty washing-up liquid?" .)