The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 3 plus 2 plus 4 letter word LIE IN WAIT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
L
I
E
I
N
W
A
I
T
More clues leading to the result LIE IN WAIT
- Ambush requiring delay after lazy morning?
- Plan to attack fake story I want amended, after taking in newspaper
- Initial wage extremely terrible, prepare to attack
- We initial changes to prepare an ambush
- We initial forms to prepare for attack
- Plan for ambush we initial with a flourish
- We initial changes to prepare ambush
- Story concerning wabbit: Bugs Bunny heads off; what will hunter do?
- Hide alleged responsibility for late morning initially
- Take orders after extended rest and stay hidden ahead?
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Plan to surprise" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case plan to surprise = lie in wait.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.