Crossword Genius

Go off hill climbing (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rot

'go off' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'hill climbing' is the wordplay.
'hill' becomes 'tor' (tor is a kind of hill).
'climbing' says the letters should be written in reverse (in a down clue, letters climb up).
'tor' reversed gives 'ROT'.

(Other definitions for rot that I've seen before include "Break down, waste away" , "Rubbish (colloq.)" , "Rhubarb" , "Putrefy" , "Decay - rubbish" .)

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