Crossword Genius

Oscar exercises with judge after work (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

operate

'work' is the definition.
(I know that work is a kind of operate)

'oscar exercises with judge' is the wordplay.
'oscar' becomes 'O' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'exercises' becomes 'pe' (Physical Education class).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'judge' becomes 'rate' (rating is a kind of judging).
'o'+'pe'+'rate'='OPERATE'

'after' is the link.

(Other definitions for operate that I've seen before include "Eat rope (anag.)" , "Manage, run" , "Make to work" , "Work as a surgeon" , "Work, run" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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