This is a reversal clue - look for indicators like 'back', 'returned', 'up' (in down clues), or 'west' (in across clues)
Write 'a snob (a pretentious type) < (rejected) + i (one) – it’s a little-grown tree because bonsai is a technique of growing miniature trees' backwards
Answer: BONSAI | Definition: 'little-grown tree' | Wordplay: reversal of A SNOB (A pretentious type) < (rejected) + I (one) – it’s a little-grown tree because bonsai is a technique of growing miniature trees.