Cross old tax collectors reflect on fare (9)
I believe the answer is:
irritable
'cross' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'old tax collectors reflect on fare' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'fare' could be 'table' (table is a kind of food) and 'table' is found in the answer.
'tax collectors' could be 'ir' (abbreviation for Inland Revenue) and 'ir' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for irritable that I've seen before include "Easily annoyed" , "Cantankerous" , "Touchy" , "snappy" , "Sensitive" .)