Crossword Genius

Conservative way to reverse decay (3,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dry rot

'decay' is the definition.
(I have seen 'Decay of timber ' mean 'dry rot' so perhaps 'decay' could also mean 'dry rot')

'conservative way to reverse' is the wordplay.
'conservative' becomes 'tory' (informal term for a Conservative Party member).
'way' becomes 'rd' (short for road).
'to reverse' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'tory'+'rd'='toryrd'
'toryrd' backwards is 'DRY-ROT'.

(Other definitions for dry rot that I've seen before include "Fungus that causes wood to crumble" , "Decay of unventilated wood" , "infestation" , "problem with truss?" , "Fungus affecting wood" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Times.
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