The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word MISSPENT
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
M
I
S
S
P
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result MISSPENT
- Wasted time supporting unmarried female writer
- Like wasted youth, girl shut up
- Mess about with pint to get wasted
- Wasted young lady to hedge bet finally
- Girl in jail, wasted
- The sort of youth enjoyed by maiden darling pocketing note
- It looks like our security service’s repressed and dissipated
- Teacher locked up, being wasted
- Dismiss Penthouse centrefold that’s wasted
- Like many a youth or girl, putting exercise before books
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Like many a youth" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case like many a youth = misspent.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 MISSPENT mean?
MISSPENT verb- To spend poorly, incorrectly or unwisely.
- Spent in a bad way, squandered