Crossword Genius

Wise guy putting cover on chimney (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hoodlum

'wise guy' is the definition.
(wise guy can mean a gangster)

'cover on chimney' is the wordplay.
'cover' becomes 'hood' (hooding is a kind of covering).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'chimney' becomes 'lum' (I've seen this in other clues).
'hood'+'lum'='HOODLUM'

'putting' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for hoodlum that I've seen before include "Aggressive young criminal" , "Mobster" , "One breaks the law" , "Lawless youth" , "Young thug or gangster" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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