Crossword Genius

Wind-up? Why to be wary (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

leery

'be wary' is the definition.
(leery can mean wary or cautious)

'wind-up? why' is the wordplay.
'wind' becomes 'reel' (to reel something is to wind it up).
'up?' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'why' becomes 'y'.
'reel' backwards is 'leer'.
'leer'+'y'='LEERY'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for leery that I've seen before include "Cautious due to suspicions" , "Knowing" , "Cunning - wary" , "Sly, cunning" , "Shy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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