Cryptic crossword clue
Struggling to hold axe up for checking 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word VERIFYING

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
V
E
R
I
F
Y
I
N
G

Buddy explains!

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

VERIFYING verb
  1. To substantiate or prove the truth of something
  2. To confirm or test the truth or accuracy of something
  3. To affirm something formally, under oath

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