Cryptic crossword clue
Corporal punishment for swigging ale at opera

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word LEATHERING

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Corporal punishment" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case corporal punishment = leathering.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does LEATHERING mean?

LEATHERING verb
  1. To cover with leather.
  2. To strike forcefully.
  3. To beat with a leather belt or strap.
LEATHERING noun
  1. A beating.

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