Crossword Genius

Maintaining pursuit, overwhelmed by tears? (2,4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

in full cry

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

'maintaining pursuit overwhelmed' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'tears?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'tears?' could be 'cry' (I have seen 'Shed tears ' mean 'cry' so perhaps 'tears' could also mean 'cry') and 'cry' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'infull' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'by' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for in full cry that I've seen before include "A pack of hounds may be" , "Hotly pursuing" , "hounds are on the scent?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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