Crossword Genius

He’s perhaps right, intellectual artist leaning to the left? (4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rare gas

'he's perhaps' is the definition.
(helium - symbol 'He' - is an example)

'right intellectual artist leaning to the left?' is the wordplay.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'intellectual' becomes 'sage' (sage is a kind of intellectual).
'artist' becomes 'ra' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'leaning to the left?' says the letters should be written backwards (written right to left).
'sage'+'ra'='sagera'
'sagera' backwards is 'aregas'.
'r'+'aregas'='RARE GAS'

(Other definitions for rare gas that I've seen before include "Element such as helium, neon etc" , "Such as argon or xenon" , "Such as neon, argon, etc" , "Eg, helium or neon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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