Erotic youngster detectives hold up (5)
I believe the answer is:
cupid
'erotic youngster' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'detectives hold up' is the wordplay.
'detectives' becomes 'cid'.
'hold' is an insertion indicator.
'cid' enclosing 'up' is 'CUPID'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cupid that I've seen before include "Roman god of love, child archer" , "Tiny archer as Roman god of love" , "armed youth" , "Roman Eros" , "godlike figure" .)