Odd elements in crude suggestion (3)
I believe the answer is:
cue
'suggestion' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'odd elements in crude' is the wordplay.
'odd elements in' means one should take alternating letters (only the odd-numbered letters are used).
The alternate letters of 'crude' are 'CUE'.
(Other definitions for cue that I've seen before include "strike" , "Hint, prompt" , "State of collapse, disaster" , "Used in snooker and on stage" , "Sporting rod" .)