Tries to find out if the cutlery’s been returned (6)
I believe the answer is:
snoops
'tries to find out if' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'cutlery's been returned' is the wordplay.
'cutlery's' becomes 'spoon's' (spoon is a kind of cutlery).
'been returned' says the letters should be written in reverse (I've seen 'being returned' mean this).
'spoons' backwards is 'SNOOPS'.
'the' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for snoops that I've seen before include "Sneaks" , "Spies, eavesdrops" , "Spies, eavesdroppers" , "Pries inquisitively using spoons" .)