Crossword Genius

Request lead reduced by half for pointer (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

needle

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'for pointer' is the definition.
(needle is a kind of pointer)

'request lead reduced by half' is the wordplay.
'request lead' becomes 'need' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'reduced by' becomes 'less' (I've seen this in another clue).
'half' indicates taking half.
'less' cut in half is 'le'.
'need'+'le'='NEEDLE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for needle that I've seen before include "Pin" , "anger" , "Moveable bar in a compass" , "Implement for knitting and sewing" , "Annoy; pine leaf" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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