Cryptic crossword clue
Having no starter, drink Scotch 5

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

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
Q
U
A
S
H


Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Scotch" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case scotch = quash.
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 QUASH mean?

QUASH verb
  1. To defeat decisively.
  2. To crush or dash to pieces.
  3. To void or suppress (a subpoena, decision, etc.).

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