Crossword Genius

Nudge softly with a stick (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

prod

'nudge' is the definition.
(I know this)

'softly with a stick' is the wordplay.
'softly' becomes 'p' (short for piano, musical term for softly).
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'a stick' becomes 'rod' (I've seen this before).
'p'+'rod'='PROD'

(Other definitions for prod that I've seen before include "Poke or spur" , "Stimulus" , "Give a reminder" , "Poke with stiff finger to urge" , "Incite to action (with a stick?)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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