Expensive pickle (5)

I believe the answer is:

steep

This clue is a double definition.

'expensive' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)

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

(Other definitions for steep that I've seen before include "not reasonable" , "Sharply inclined" , "Hard for cycling" , "Having a sharp incline" , "Lofty" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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