The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word HOPSCOTCH
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
H
O
P
S
C
O
T
C
H
More clues leading to the result HOPSCOTCH
- Hard work is followed by whisky and a game
- What’s in beer and whisky? That’s child’s play
- Hard work followed by drink and game
- Hard work put an end to child's play
- Game youngsters enjoy drink on short flight
- Game of agility is hard work when taking alcohol
- Game where drink taken after dance
- Hard work to score children’s game
- Game bound to stop
- Game husband having drink after work
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "child's play" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case child's play = hopscotch.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 HOPSCOTCH mean?
HOPSCOTCH noun- A child's game, in which a player, hopping on one foot, drives a stone from one compartment to another of a figure traced or scotched on the ground.
- To move by hopping.
- To move back and forth between adjacent patterns by hopping.