Crossword Genius

Cover for house perhaps taken after agent gets a telling-off

Ross

I believe the answer is:

re-proof

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'a telling-off' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'cover for house perhaps taken after agent' is the wordplay.
'cover for' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'house' becomes 'residence' (residence is a kind of house).
'perhaps taken after agent' becomes 'proof' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'residence' with its middle removed is 're'.
're'+'proof'='RE-PROOF'

'gets' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for re-proof that I've seen before include "Ticking-off" , "Telling-off" , "Admonishment" , "Words of blame, rebuke" , "Castigation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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