Crossword Genius

Relaxation of French taking wine with English (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

detente

'relaxation' is the definition.
(a detente is a relaxation of hostile relations)

'of french taking wine with english' is the wordplay.
'of french' becomes 'de' ('of' in French).
'taking' says to put letters next to each other.
'wine' becomes 'tent' (type of Spanish wine).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'de'+'tent'+'e'='DETENTE'

(Other definitions for detente that I've seen before include "Slackening of tension" , "The easing of tensions between nations" , "relaxation" , "Easing of international tension" , "Relaxed relations" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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