Crossword Genius

It's a problem to raise hat to a girl (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dilemma

'it's a problem' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'raise hat to a girl' is the wordplay.
'raise' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'hat' becomes 'lid' ('lid' can be a synonym of 'hat').
'to a girl' becomes 'emma' (**).
'lid' written backwards gives 'dil'.
'dil'+'emma'='DILEMMA'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for dilemma that I've seen before include "difficult question" , "Predicament" , "a problem for Shaw's doctor" , "Problem (with horns?)" , "Perplexing situation or difficult choice" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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