The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 4 letter word CUFF
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
C
U
F
F
More clues leading to the result CUFF
- Hit copper with repeated force
- Strike part of sleeve
- Hit for army band?
- Strike during scuffle
- Strike copper with substantial volume
- Copper with great force might do this in apprehension
- Copper following female gets smack
- Hit copper on force with force
- Belt as part of a shirt
- Heartlessly disconnected — that’s a blow
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "might do this in apprehension" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case might do this in apprehension = cuff.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 CUFF mean?
CUFF noun- Glove; mitten
- The end of a shirt sleeve that covers the wrist
- The end of a pants leg, folded up
- Handcuffs
- To furnish with cuffs.
- To handcuff.
- A blow, especially with the open hand; a box; a slap.
- To hit, as a reproach, particularly with the open palm to the head; to slap.
- To fight; to scuffle; to box.
- To buffet.
- The scruff of the neck.