Crossword Genius

Illicit affairs of spymaster running major industry (6,8)

Ross

I think it could be either:

Which length description are you looking for?:

6

6,8

monkey business

'illicit affairs' is the definition.

'spymaster running major industry' is the wordplay.
'spymaster' becomes 'm' (in James Bond).
'running' becomes 'on' (I've seen this in other clues).
'major' becomes 'key'.
'industry' becomes 'business'.
'm'+'on'+'key'+'business'='MONKEY BUSINESS'

'of' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for monkey business that I've seen before include "Mischievous behaviour" , "fiddle" , "Marx Brothers film" , "may be amusingly projected" , "larking about" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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