Crossword Genius

Sycophants in hotel rile boy (7,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hangers on

'sycophants' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'hotel rile boy' is the wordplay.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'rile' becomes 'anger' (I've seen this in another clue).
'boy' becomes 'son' (male child).
'h'+'anger'+'son'='HANGERS-ON'

'in' is the link.

(Other definitions for hangers on that I've seen before include "Followers" , "Entourage" , "Toadies" , "dependants" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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