Crossword Genius

Though soft in caress, perhaps, is abrasive (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

scrapes

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'is abrasive' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'though soft in caress' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'soft' could be 'p' (musical abbreviation for 'piano', soft) and 'p' is present in the answer.
an anagram of 'caress' is 'scraes' which is present in the left over letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'perhaps' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for scrapes that I've seen before include "Predicaments" , "Jars" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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