Villain putting squeeze on the leader (4)
I believe the answer is:
thug
'villain' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?
'squeeze on the leader' is the wordplay.
'squeeze' becomes 'hug' (synonyms).
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'leader' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'the' is 't'.
'hug' put after 't' is 'THUG'.
'putting' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for thug that I've seen before include "Gangster" , "violent man" , "violent gang member" , "A vicious or brutal ruffian" , "Heavy" .)