The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word FLASHING
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
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More clues leading to the result FLASHING
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Strip of metal" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case strip of metal = flashing.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 FLASHING mean?
FLASHING verb- To cause to shine briefly or intermittently.
- To blink; to shine or illuminate intermittently.
- To be visible briefly.
- To make visible briefly.
- To briefly, and often unintentionally, expose one's naked body or underwear, or part of it, in public. (Contrast streak.)
- To show or expose an "inappropriate" part of the body to someone for humorous reasons or as an act of contempt.
- To break forth like a sudden flood of light; to show a momentary brilliance.
- To flaunt; to display in a showy manner.
- To communicate quickly.
- To move, or cause to move, suddenly.
- To telephone a person, only allowing the phone to ring once, in order to request a call back.
- (of liquid) To evaporate suddenly. (See flash evaporation.)
- To climb (a route) successfully on the first attempt.
- To write to the memory of (an updatable component such as a BIOS chip or games cartridge).
- (glassmaking) To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different colour.
- (glassmaking) To expand (blown glass) into a disc.
- To send by some startling or sudden means.
- To burst out into violence.
- To perform a flash.
- To release the pressure from a pressurized vessel.
- To trick up in a showy manner.
- To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash.
- A sudden blazing or bursting, as of fire or water.
- (roofing) Components used to weatherproof or seal roof system edges at perimeters, penetrations, walls, expansion joints, valleys, drains and other places where the roof covering is interrupted or terminated.
- The process of getting rid of gaps on shelves by bringing products from the back of the shelf to the front to create a 'fuller' shelf.
- The blinking of a light source, such as a light bulb or computer's cursor.
- The exposing of one's naked body, or part of it, in public briefly (the action of the verb to flash).
- (jewellery) The use of rhodium plating to temporarily enhance a ring's durability and shine.