Crossword Genius

Reportedly pinch metal (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

steel

'metal' is the definition.
(steel is a kind of metal)

'reportedly pinch' is the wordplay.
'reportedly' shows a homophone (sound like).
'pinch' becomes 'steal' (I've seen this before).
'steal' sounds like 'STEEL'.

(Other definitions for steel that I've seen before include "Hard, strong, grey alloy" , "Iron/carbon alloy" , "Mixture of carbon and iron" , "May be cold" , "Make hard and unfeeling" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror and The Times.
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