The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word SHOE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
S
H
O
E
More clues leading to the result SHOE
- Trainer possibly has month to improve, all concluding
- Where a dealer stashes a pack in Oxford?
- Pump, say, working hose
- Socks son pulled up, put into this?
- What’s said to drive away mule?
- Small garden implement — what could be about a foot
- Hard going in wartime force for mule perhaps
- Small garden in Oxford?
- Audible word to scare away trainer, say
- House in home counties or Oxford?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Oxford/mule?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case oxford/mule? = shoe.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 SHOE mean?
SHOE noun- A protective covering for the foot, with a bottom part composed of thick leather or plastic sole and often a thicker heel, and a softer upper part made of leather or synthetic material. Shoes generally do not extend above the ankle, as opposed to boots, which do.
- A piece of metal designed to be attached to a horse's foot as a means of protection; a horseshoe.
- A device for holding multiple decks of playing cards, allowing more games to be played by reducing the time between shuffles.
- Something resembling a shoe in form, position, or function, such as a brake shoe.
- The outer cover or tread of a pneumatic tire, especially for an automobile.
- To put shoes on one's feet.
- To put horseshoes on a horse.
- To equip an object with a protection against wear.