The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word TRAVESTY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
T
R
A
V
E
S
T
Y
More clues leading to the result TRAVESTY
- Flat plate securing underwear is a mockery
- Burlesque? Go without an item of underwear
- Birds start to turn in attempt to take off
- Go without an undergarment in farce
- Touchy about curtailed party — a mockery!
- Cross about ultimately bitter Bible parody
- Sham attempt to get hold of a grant
- . Attempt to grab a waistcoat in America? It’s a farce
- Playwright ignoring one rule with extremely tacky parody
- Artist very cutting in short farce
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "take off" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case take off = travesty.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.
What does TRAVESTY mean?
TRAVESTY noun- An absurd or grotesque misrepresentation.
- A parody or stylistic imitation.
- A grossly inferior imitation.
- An appalling version of something.
- To make a travesty of; to parody.