Polish up a Cherubini piece (3)
I believe the answer is:
rub
'polish' is the definition.
(polish meaning rub to make shiny)
'up a cherubini piece' is the wordplay.
'piece' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'RUB' is hidden in the letters of 'up cherubini'.
(Other definitions for rub that I've seen before include "Abrade" , "Central difficulty" , "Ointment; copy (a brass)" , "Massage or burnish" , "trouble" .)