Crossword Genius

Ordinary exercises sailor's managing (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

operating

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'managing' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with social activities as well as being present participle verbs.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'ordinary exercises sailor's' is the wordplay.
'ordinary' becomes 'O' (abbreviation e.g. O-Levels).
'exercises' becomes 'pe' (Physical Education class).
'sailor' becomes 'rating' (British term for a naval enlisted man).
'o'+'pe'+'rating'='OPERATING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for operating that I've seen before include "Functioning" , "(Of machine) running" , "Performing surgery" , "Directing or controlling, machinery say" , "at work" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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