Crossword Genius

The French put off diminishing (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

let-up

'diminishing' is the definition.

'the french put off' is the subsidiary indication.
'the french' becomes 'le'.
'off' is an anagram indicator.
'put' with letters rearranged gives 'tup'.
'le'+'tup'='letup'

(Other definitions for let-up that I've seen before include "Respite, relief" , "Pause in intensity" , "Relieving pause" , "Abatement" , "Pause, temporary respite" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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