Crossword Genius

Liven things up in a team perhaps (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

animate

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'liven things' is the definition.
'animate' can be an answer for 'liven' ('animate' can be a synonym of 'liven'). I am not sure about the 'things' bit.

'up in a team perhaps' is the wordplay.
'up' says the letters should be written backwards (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'perhaps' indicates anagramming the letters.
'in'+'a'='ina'
'ina' in reverse letter order is 'ani'.
'team' anagrammed gives 'mate'.
'ani'+'mate'='ANIMATE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for animate that I've seen before include "Enliven - draw for cartoon" , "Living" , "Spirited" , "Enliven, alive" , "Make lively like cartoon" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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