Crossword Genius

Remove cream, curdled (4,3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pick off

'remove' is the definition.

'cream curdled' is the wordplay.
'cream' becomes 'pick' (both can mean the best of a group).
'curdled' becomes 'off' (gone bad).
'pick'+'off'='PICK OFF'

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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