Crossword Genius

Rage-filled policeman features in predicament (4,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dire straits

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'predicament' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'rage-filled policeman features' is the wordplay.
'rage' becomes 'ire' (ire is intense rage).
'filled' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'policeman' becomes 'ds' (abbreviation for Detective Sergeant).
'features' becomes 'traits' (I've seen this in another clue).
'ire' inserted within 'ds' is 'dires'.
'dires'+'traits'='DIRE STRAITS'

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dire straits that I've seen before include "Great difficulties" , "(in) great difficulty" , "Position of extreme distress" , "Position of acute difficulty - pop group" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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