Cryptic crossword clue
All used up, Tom’s a goner 4,5

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 plus 5 letter word NINE LIVES

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
N
I
N
E
L
I
V
E
S

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "All used up, Tom’s a goner" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case all used up, tom’s a goner = nine lives.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations