Crossword Genius

Become leader in take over? Retire first (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

turn into

'become' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'leader in take over? retire first' is the wordplay.
'leader in' suggests taking the first letters.
'retire' becomes 'turnin' (turn in can mean to retire or go to bed).
'first' means one lot of letters go next to another.
The first letters of 'take over' is 'to'.
'to' put after 'turnin' is 'TURN INTO'.

(Another definition for turn into that I've seen is " Become".)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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