Crossword Genius

Start to live on drink (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

begin

'start' is the definition.
(I know that start is a more specific form of begin)

'live on drink' is the wordplay.
'live' becomes 'be' (synonyms).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'drink' becomes 'gin' (gin is an alcoholic drink).
'be'+'gin'='BEGIN'

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for begin that I've seen before include "Commence" , "Israeli prime minister who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with President Sadat" , "Make a start" , "Clandestine, furtive" , "Launch" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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