Leading trouble between adult male and female (5,2)

'leading' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'trouble between adult male and female' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'trouble' could be 'ado' (both can mean bother or commotion) and 'ado' is found in the answer.
'adult' could be 'a' (abbreviation) and 'a' is present in the answer.
'male' could be 'he' (he refers to a man) and 'he' is found within the answer.
'female' could be 'f' (abbreviation) and 'f' is located in the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?