The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 plus 4 letter word THINK TANK
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
T
H
I
N
K
T
A
N
K
More clues leading to the result THINK TANK
- . Committee considering war transport?
- Expert group‘s article not finishing well for writer?
- Fine king taken over reservoir, a source of solution to problems?
- Consider translation of Kant as a source of ideas
- Group of experts appropriate for an intellectual minefield?
- Research body that’s weak, shade limited by double dose of potassiumd
- Challenger, perhaps, following judge a source of new ideas?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "a source of ideas" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a source of ideas = think tank.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 THINK TANK mean?
THINK TANK noun- A group of people who collectively perform research and develop reports and recommendations on topics relating to strategic planning or public policy, and which is usually funded by corporate, government, or special interests.
- To perform research and develop recommendations as part of a think tank.