Crossword Genius

Tell IRA to reform word-for-word (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

literal

'word-for-word' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'tell ira to reform' is the wordplay.
'to reform' indicates an anagram (letters in a new form).
'tell'+'ira'='tellira'
'tellira' anagrammed gives 'LITERAL'.

(Other definitions for literal that I've seen before include "All tire (anag.)" , "Tell IRA (anag) - word for word" , "Without exaggeration or embellishment" , "Word-for-word" , "Unimaginative" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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