Crossword Genius

Hair cut son's delayed to create a row (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lock horns

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'a row' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'hair cut son's delayed' is the wordplay.
'hair' becomes 'locks' (locks can mean hair).
'cut' means to remove the last letter.
'son's delayed' becomes 'horns' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'locks' with its final letter taken off is 'lock'.
'lock'+'horns'='LOCK HORNS'

'to create' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for lock horns that I've seen before include "Engage in struggle" , "Start to do battle" , "Quarrel (like rutting stags?)" , "Engage in conflict" , "Become embroiled in conflict" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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