The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word LATHERED
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
L
A
T
H
E
R
E
D
More clues leading to the result LATHERED
- Tool, visibly sore, covered in soap
- Turner has colour spread liberally
- Machine very hot and covered with foam
- Beaten, showing a white face?
- In a state of agitation, left head of accounts in it when in debt
- Outside that place see boy being thrashed
- Turner, having got angry, foamed
- Smoother ruby flogged
- Young fellow around there got ready to shave
- The Parisian and the socialist spread soap all over
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "spread liberally" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case spread liberally = lathered.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 LATHERED mean?
LATHERED verb- To cover with lather.
- To beat or whip.
- To form lather or froth, as a horse does when profusely sweating.