Cryptic crossword clue
Operatic heroine caught leading man taking off 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word MIMICKING

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
M
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M
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C
K
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G

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "taking off" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case taking off = mimicking.
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 MIMICKING mean?

MIMICKING verb
  1. To imitate, especially in order to ridicule.
  2. To take on the appearance of another, for protection or camouflage.
MIMICKING noun
  1. Mimicry

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