Cryptic crossword clue
Hard to leave boat looking shabby 5

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word DINGY

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
D
I
N
G
Y

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "shabby" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case shabby = dingy.
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 DINGY mean?

DINGY adjective
  1. Drab; shabby; dirty; squalid
DINGY noun
  1. A small open boat, propelled by oars or paddles, carried as a tender, lifeboat, or pleasure craft on a ship.
  2. An inflatable rubber life raft.

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