Crossword Genius

Turns up, relay brief by journalist to one selling drugs (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dealer

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'one selling drugs' is the definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.

'turns up relay brief by journalist' is the wordplay.
'turns up' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'brief' means to remove the last letter.
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'relay' with its final letter taken off is 'rela'.
'rela'+'ed'='relaed'
'relaed' in reverse letter order is 'DEALER'.

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dealer that I've seen before include "See 24" , "Trader as on Stock Exchange" , "Card distributor" , "One gives out the cards" , "One who trades, perhaps on stock exchange" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app