Crossword Genius

How to make neat see-saw or yo-yo? (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alternate

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'see-saw or yo-yo?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'how to make neat' is the wordplay.
'how' becomes 'alter' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'to make' indicates an anagram.
'neat' anagrammed gives 'nate'.
'alter'+'nate'='ALTERNATE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for alternate that I've seen before include "Interchange" , "Change repeatedly between two" , "Every second one of a series" , "go back and forth" , "In turns, first one then the other" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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