The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SCRATCHY
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
C
R
A
T
C
H
Y
More clues leading to the result SCRATCHY
- Not playing well after scoring?
- Like a hair shirt? Remove yours at the outset
- Like 78 yachts at sea rounding Costa Rica
- Son’s intro to record, memorable without being irritating
- Grating in school yard in which pest’s caught hiding
- Irritable cats cry, running wild around hospital
- Withdraw from event before end of relay, causing irritation
- Reticent about Conservative traitor, about to become irritable
- In poor condition for record, withdraw from race? Yes
- Like many an old record making one bad-tempered
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Like a hair shirt?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case like a hair shirt? = scratchy.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 SCRATCHY mean?
SCRATCHY adjective- Characterized by scratches.
- (chiefly of a sore throat) Annoying, irritating, itchy.
- (of an analogue radio transmission) Noisy, lossy; marred by white noise or static as a result of poor or low signal, interference or unfavourable atmospheric conditions.
- (of a phonograph record) Having popping and/or crackling sounds due to excessive wear, especially from scratch marks.