Crossword Genius

Sailor turning up is unpleasant person (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rat

'unpleasant person' is the definition.
(I know that rat is a type of unpleasant person)

'sailor turning up' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'tar' (slang term for a sailor).
'turning up' is a reversal indicator.
'tar' in reverse letter order is 'RAT'.

'is' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for rat that I've seen before include "Despicable person" , "Rodent pest" , "Treacherous person" , "person doing shopping" , "Tell-tale" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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