When ready, Mike snooped around (6)

I believe the answer is:

primed

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'when ready' is the definition.
'primed' can be an answer for 'ready' (I've seen this before). I'm not certain of the 'when' bit.

'mike snooped around' is the wordplay.
'mike' becomes 'M' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'snooped' becomes 'pried' (I've seen this before).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'm' inserted inside 'pried' is 'PRIMED'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for primed that I've seen before include "charged" , "Loaded or put on a preparatory coating" , "Made ready (to fire)" , "Filled in" , "Made ready for action" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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