The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word LISTENING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
L
I
S
T
E
N
I
N
G
More clues leading to the result LISTENING
- Preparing to pick up stuff first in red Golf
- Revolutionary Leninist before the start of glasnost paying attention …
- Schedule final without daughter hearing
- Gun I found hidden in heather, being attentive
- It might be easy to cut a record in German using English notation principally
- Hearing what a ship might be doing around ends of the haven
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Preparing to pick up stuff" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case preparing to pick up stuff = listening.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 LISTENING mean?
LISTENING verb- To pay attention to a sound or speech.
- To expect or wait for a sound, such as a signal.
- To accept advice or obey instruction; to agree or assent.
- To hear (something or someone), to pay attention to.
- Of something or someone that listens.
- Of something that is used in order to hear or to improve the ability to hear.
- Of an action that is performed with caution and attention to sounds.
- Action of the verb listening
- An educational exercise involving listening
- Skill or ability of perceiving spoken language.