Crossword Genius

Anyone check about sleuth with hound? (3,4,3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tom dick and harry

'anyone' is the definition.
(phrase meaning any person)

'check about sleuth with hound?' is the wordplay.
'check' becomes 'mot' (MOT check for a vehicle).
'about' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'sleuth' becomes 'dick' (dick can informally mean a detective).
'with' becomes 'and'.
'hound?' becomes 'harry' (both can mean to harass).
'mot' back-to-front is 'tom'.
'tom'+'dick'+'and'+'harry'='TOM DICK AND HARRY'

(Other definitions for tom dick and harry that I've seen before include "Anyone" , "Ordinary people" , "Being basic geezer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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