Crossword Genius

Down? Flipping take too many drugs, Hoskins? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

saddo

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'drugs hoskins?' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'down? flipping take too many' is the wordplay.
'down?' becomes 'sad' (I've seen this before).
'flipping' is a reversal indicator.
'take too' becomes 'o' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'many' becomes 'D' (Roman numeral for 500).
'o'+'d'='od'
'od' reversed gives 'do'.
'sad'+'do'='SADDO'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for saddo that I've seen before include "Boring loner" , "nerdy type" , "pathetic person" , "He's pathetic!" , "lonely person" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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