Crossword Genius

Issue with European ceremony (4,3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spit and polish

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

'ceremony' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot see how one could define the other.

'issue with european' is the wordplay.
'issue' becomes 'spit' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'with' becomes 'and'.
'european' becomes 'Polish ' (Poland is in Europe).
'spit'+'and'+'polish'='SPIT AND POLISH'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for spit and polish that I've seen before include "Good clean activity" , "(Military) attention to order and appearance" , "Punctilious attention to cleanliness, discipline, etc" , "zealous neatness" , "Cleaning of equipment to excess - ceremony and formality" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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