Crossword Genius

Copper in command covered by directions for perilous situations (10)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

precipices

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'perilous situations' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.

'copper in command covered by directions' is the wordplay.
'copper' becomes 'p'.
'in command' becomes 'ic' (military abbreviation).
'covered by' is an insertion indicator.
'directions' becomes 'recipes' (recipe is a kind of direction).
'ic' placed inside 'recipes' is 'recipices'.
'p'+'recipices'='PRECIPICES'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for precipices that I've seen is " Faces".)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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