River seen swirling backwards (2,7)
I believe the answer is:
in reverse
'backwards' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'river seen swirling' is the wordplay.
'swirling' indicates anagramming the letters (letters get swirled around).
'river'+'seen'='riverseen'
'riverseen' with letters rearranged gives 'IN REVERSE'.
I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Guardian.
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