Unexplained details of card game watched by detective (5,4)
I believe the answer is:
loose ends
'unexplained details' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.
'card game watched by detective' is the wordplay.
'card game' becomes 'loo' (historical card game).
'watched' becomes 'seen' (I've seen this in another clue).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'detective' becomes 'DS' (detective sergeant).
'loo'+'seen'+'ds'='LOOSE ENDS'
'of' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for loose ends that I've seen before include "details yet to be explained" , "items to be settled" , "Unfinished business" .)