What to play, having a dislike for a Verdi composition? (3,5)
I believe the answer is:
off drive
'what to play having a dislike' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.
'verdi composition?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
an anagram of 'verdi' is 'drive' which is within the answer.
The remaining letters 'off' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'for a' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for off drive that I've seen before include "Stroke of a cricketer" , "One sent to cover" .)