Crossword Genius

One lifting lid or roof briefly upset Frenchman (3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

can opener

'one lifting lid' is the definition.

'roof briefly upset frenchman' is the wordplay.
'roof' becomes 'canopy'.
'briefly' means to remove the last letter.
'upset' says the letters should be written backwards.
'frenchman' becomes 'rene'.
'rene' back-to-front is 'ener'.
'canopy' with its last letter taken off is 'canop'.
'canop'+'ener'='CAN-OPENER'

'or' is the link.

(Other definitions for can opener that I've seen before include "One's required to get some food" , "Kitchen utensil" , "person who frees prisoners" , "Kitchen implement" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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