Crossword Genius

Returning drinker cut left (2,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

to spare

'left' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'returning drinker cut' is the wordplay.
'returning' is a reversal indicator.
'drinker' becomes 'sot' (sot is a kind of drinker).
'cut' becomes 'pare' (paring is a kind of cutting).
'sot' in reverse letter order is 'tos'.
'tos'+'pare'='TO SPARE'

(Another definition for to spare that I've seen is " Left over".)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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