Crossword Genius

Lifting some cracked rib, eg accounts for pet budgie, say (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cage bird

'pet budgie say' is the definition.
(bird kept in a cage)

'lifting some cracked rib eg accounts' is the wordplay.
'lifting' is a reversal indicator.
'some' indicates a hidden word (some of the parts of the word are used).
'dribegac' is hidden in the letters of 'cracked rib eg accounts'.
'dribegac' written backwards gives 'CAGE-BIRD'.

'for' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for cage bird that I've seen before include "Canary, say" , "One tweeting often shut up" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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