Crossword Genius

Revolutionary dresses I slip inside empty package (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

robespierre

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'revolutionary dresses i slip inside empty package' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'revolutionary dresses i slip inside empty package' is the wordplay.
'revolutionary dresses' becomes 'robes' (robing is a kind of dressing. I am not sure about the 'revolutionary' bit.).
'slip' becomes 'err' (to err is to make an error).
'inside' is an insertion indicator.
'empty' means to remove the middle letters.
'package' with its centre removed is 'pe'.
'i'+'err'='ierr'
'ierr' put into 'pe' is 'pierre'.
'robes'+'pierre'='ROBESPIERRE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for robespierre that I've seen before include "leading figure in French history" , "old revolutionary" , "French revolutionary who was guillotined" , "French Jacobin leader, guillotined in 1794" , "Revolutionary leader" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app