Doing one's best to be irksome (6)

I believe the answer is:

trying

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

'to be irksome' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for trying that I've seen before include "work on bench" , "Attempting or irritating" , "Exasperating" , "Bothersome" , "Tiresome" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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