Crossword Genius

Difficult second argument (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stiff

'difficult' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'second argument' is the wordplay.
'second' becomes 's' (common abbreviation).
'argument' becomes 'tiff' (I've seen this before).
's'+'tiff'='STIFF'

(Other definitions for stiff that I've seen before include "Unyielding" , "Rigid, unbending" , "Formal" , "Awkward" , "Unfriendly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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