Crossword Genius

Irritated agent holds on to cut (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

snippy

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'irritated' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'agent holds on to cut' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'cut' could be 'nip' (nipping is a kind of cutting) and 'nip' is located in the answer.
'agent' could be 'spy' (spy is a kind of agent) and 'spy' is present in the remaining letters.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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