Crossword Genius

Exaggerate the merits of maidens possibly facing 'orrible situation (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

oversell

'exaggerate the merits of' is the definition.
(oversell can mean to exaggerate a thing's quality)

'maidens possibly facing 'orrible situation' is the wordplay.
'maidens possibly' becomes 'overs' (maiden is a kind of over).
'facing' means one lot of letters go next to another.
''orrible situation' becomes ''ell' ('hell' - hell can mean a horrible or difficult situation - said with the 'H' dropped, a cockney accent, like 'horrible situation' was).
'overs'+'ell'='OVERSELL'

(Another definition for oversell that I've seen is " Exaggerate merits".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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