Cryptic crossword clue
In time, beat up relative 6

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word AGNATE

I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
A
G
N
A
T
E

Buddy explains!

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

AGNATE noun
  1. A relative whose relation is traced only through male members of the family.
  2. Any paternal male relative.
AGNATE adjective
  1. Related to someone by male connections or on the paternal side of the family.
  2. Allied; akin
  3. Having a similar semantic meaning.

Latest crossword clues with full explanations