Possible Clues:

• Nasty job imposed on me? It's a breeze!
• Person used by another for dangerous business
• It has claws (2 words)
• Tool from front of cellar was apt to go wrong
• Dupe the foot of the beast
• Puppet producing a lot of litter?
• Whips pawn, losing knight to another pawn
• Person used to do something risky - with feline fool?
• Tom's hand tool?
• Dupe - nautical hitch - ripples on water in light wind