The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 plus 2 plus 3 plus 3 letter word JACK IN THE BOX
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result JACK IN THE BOX
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "start from this/4-2-3-3" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case start from this/4-2-3-3 = jack in the box.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 JACK IN THE BOX mean?
JACK IN THE BOX noun- Children’s toy where a figure pops out of a small box.
- A con-man who deceived tradesmen by substituting empty boxes for others full of money.