Crossword Genius

Tells learner off about quarrel and garden tools (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

trowels

'garden tools' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'tells learner off about quarrel' is the wordplay.
'learner' becomes 'l' (as in a learner driver with L-plates on their car).
'off' indicates named letters should be taken away (some letters taken off).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'quarrel' becomes 'row' (synonyms).
'tells' with 'l' removed is 'tels'.
'tels' enclosing 'row' is 'TROWELS'.

'and' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for trowels that I've seen before include "Garden implements" , "Tools for gardening and plastering" , "Garden tools" , "Small hand tools" , "Hand tools for scooping" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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