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Finished off in a backward place around Spain (3,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ate up

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'finished off' is the definition.
'ate up' can be an answer for 'finished' ('eat up' can be a synonym of 'finish'). I am unsure of the 'off' bit.

'a backward place around spain' is the wordplay.
'backward' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'place' becomes 'put' ('put' can be a synonym of 'place'**).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'spain' becomes 'e' (abbreviation for Espana).
'put' placed around 'e' is 'puet'.
'puet' written backwards gives 'teup'.
'a'+'teup'='ATE UP'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ate up that I've seen before include "Absorbed" , "Squandered" , "preoccupied" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times and the Irish Times (Crosaire).
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