Was preparing a little breakfast while you wash (4)
I believe the answer is:
swab
'wash' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'was preparing a little breakfast' is the wordplay.
'preparing' indicates an anagram (the same letters prepared differently).
'a little' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'breakfast' is 'b'.
'was' is an anagram of 'swa'.
'swa'+'b'='SWAB'
'while you' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for swab that I've seen before include "Specimen" , "Cleaning implement" , "Surgical cleaner" , "Mop up - uncouth fellow" , "Clean (a wound)" .)