Crossword Genius

Salesperson with rug comes up to interfere (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tamper

'interfere' is the definition.
(I know that tamper is a more specific form of interfere)

'salesperson with rug comes up' is the wordplay.
'salesperson' becomes 'rep' (sales rep).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'rug' becomes 'mat' (both are floor coverings).
'comes up' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up).
'rep'+'mat'='repmat'
'repmat' back-to-front is 'TAMPER'.

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for tamper that I've seen before include "Machine for compacting earth; interfere (with)" , "Interfere harmfully" , "Meddle harmfully" , "Interfere (with a thing)" , "Meddle or interfere with" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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