Crossword Genius

Metal core replacing bung foot in water bug (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

irritate

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

'bug' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'metal core replacing bung foot in water' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'metal' could be 'ta' (Ta is an example) and 'ta' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for irritate that I've seen before include "Provoke" , "Nettle and annoy" , "Nark" , "Annoy, bother" , "Anger, annoy" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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