Crossword Genius

Feeling smart about Conservative account (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

score

'account' is the definition.
(I know that account can be written as score)

'feeling smart about conservative' is the wordplay.
'feeling smart' becomes 'sore' (a smart can mean a pain).
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'conservative' becomes 'C' (UK political abbreviation).
'sore' enclosing 'c' is 'SCORE'.

(Other definitions for score that I've seen before include "Hit - music" , "Result" , "Tally in a game" , "Put ball in the net" , "Grade; twenty" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app