Crossword Genius

Skimpy trousers Henry split giving waspish summary judgment (5,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

short shrift

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'waspish summary judgment' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'skimpy trousers henry split' is the wordplay.
'skimpy trousers' becomes 'shorts' (shorts is a kind of trousers. I am not sure about the 'skimpy' bit.).
'henry' becomes 'H' (symbol for the unit of electrical inductance).
'split' becomes 'rift' (I've seen this before).
'shorts'+'h'+'rift'='SHORT SHRIFT'

'giving' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for short shrift that I've seen before include "Curt treatment" , "Summary treatment of a matter" , "Brief and unsympathetic treatment" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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