The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word STACK
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
T
A
C
K
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "A lot" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case a lot = stack.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 STACK mean?
STACK noun- (heading) A pile.
- A smokestack.
- (heading) In computing.
- A generalization of schemes in algebraic geometry and of sheaves.
- A coastal landform, consisting of a large vertical column of rock in the sea.
- (library) Compactly spaced bookshelves used to house large collections of books.
- A large amount of an object.
- A pile of rifles or muskets in a cone shape.
- The amount of money a player has on the table.
- (heading) In architecture.
- A fall or crash, a prang.
- A blend of various dietary supplements or anabolic steroids with supposed synergistic benefits.
- A holding pattern, with aircraft circling one above the other as they wait to land.
- The quantity of a given item which fills up an inventory slot or bag.
- To arrange in a stack, or to add to an existing stack.
- To arrange the cards in a deck in a particular manner.
- To take all the money another player currently has on the table.
- To deliberately distort the composition of (an assembly, committee, etc.).
- To crash; to fall.
- To operate cumulatively.
- To place (aircraft) into a holding pattern.
- To collect precious metal in the form of various small objects such as coins and bars.