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Frightening to break both hands? Should be more cautious (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

leerier

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'more cautious' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are comparative adjectives. Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'frightening to break both hands?' is the wordplay.
'frightening' becomes 'eerie' (I've seen this before).
'to break' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters break into the word).
'both hands?' becomes 'LR' (abbreviations for left and right).
'eerie' put within 'lr' is 'LEERIER'.

'should be' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for leerier that I've seen before include "more cunning" , "more wary" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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