Crossword Genius

Operator understood dice (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sawbones

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

'understood dice' is the wordplay.
'understood' becomes 'saw' ('see' can be a synonym of 'understand').
'dice' becomes 'bones' (I've seen this in another clue).
'saw'+'bones'='SAWBONES'

(Other definitions for sawbones that I've seen before include "Surgeon or doctor (slang)" , "A slang surgeon, sounds grating" , "operator" , "Surgeon (joc.)" .)

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