Crossword Genius

Be suspicious, fixing small tear (5,1,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

smell a rat

'be suspicious' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'fixing small tear' is the wordplay.
'fixing' indicates anagramming the letters.
'small'+'tear'='smalltear'
'smalltear' is an anagram of 'SMELL A RAT'.

(Other definitions for smell a rat that I've seen before include "Have suspicion something is afoot" , "Detect something suspicious" , "Suspect something wrong" , "Find something fishy" , "Sense something suspicious" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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