Crossword Genius

Possible replacement's in box — leave lid off (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spare part

'possible replacement's' is the definition.

'box leave lid off' is the wordplay.
'box' becomes 'spar' (sparring is a kind of boxing).
'leave' becomes 'depart' (departing is a kind of leaving).
'lid off' means to remove the first letter (in a down clue, lid can mean the top letter).
'depart' with its first letter taken off is 'epart'.
'spar'+'epart'='SPARE-PART'

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for spare part that I've seen before include "Extra component for machine" , "Replacement component" , "something put in machine?" , "Type of surgery" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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