Crossword Genius

Smear from self-satisfied English about Germany (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

smudge

'smear' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'self-satisfied english about germany' is the wordplay.
'self-satisfied' becomes 'smug' ('smug' can be a synonym of 'self-satisfied').
'english' becomes 'e' (abbreviation).
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'germany' becomes 'd' (international vehicle registration code).
'smug'+'e'='smuge'
'smuge' placed around 'd' is 'SMUDGE'.

'from' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for smudge that I've seen before include "Blotch" , "A dirty or blurred mark" , "Smeared blot" , "Indistinct mark" , "Blur, blot" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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