Crossword Genius

Johnson returns with nothing in bungled alert — about time (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

temporal

'about time' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'johnson returns with nothing in bungled alert' is the wordplay.
'johnson' becomes 'pm' (Boris Johnson, Prime Minister).
'returns' says the letters should be written backwards.
'with nothing' becomes 'o' (I've seen this in other clues).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'bungled' indicates anagramming the letters.
'pm' written backwards gives 'mp'.
'mp'+'o'='mpo'
'alert' anagrammed gives 'teral'.
'mpo' inserted into 'teral' is 'TEMPORAL'.

(Other definitions for temporal that I've seen before include "on the Head's side?" , "Secular; of the temples" , "Not eternal" , "Earthly" , "profane" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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