Detectives back after finding maps so terribly irregular (9)
27A — Detectives back after finding maps so terribly irregular (9) — SPASMODIC
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Definition
Definition found: 'irregular' — The definition is the last word.The definition is the last word.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'back''back' reverses the detectives.
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Operation
'back' signals a reversal operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Detectives'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'terribly''terribly' scrambles the two words before it.
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Operation
'terribly' signals a anagram operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'maps so'
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Abbreviation
Abbreviations spotted: 'Detectives' → CIDNow the detectives, sent backwards, finish it ('after' tells you they come last).
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Assembly
(CID > DIC) + (MAPSSO > SPASMO) = SPASMODIC