Crossword Genius

Skinny, topless, stops a skinny woman giving advice (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

agony aunt

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

'advice' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'skinny topless stops a skinny woman' is the wordplay.
'skinny' becomes 'bony' (I've seen this in another clue).
'topless' means to remove the first letter.
'stops' indicates putting letters inside.
'skinny woman' becomes 'gaunt' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'bony' with its initial letter removed is 'ony'.
'a'+'gaunt'='agaunt'
'ony' inserted within 'agaunt' is 'AGONY AUNT'.

'giving' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for agony aunt that I've seen before include "sympathetic advisor" , "Columnist who replies to readers' letters" , "She solves readers' problems" , "may be just the person to solve problem" , "Columnist who advises on personal or romantic matters, like pained relative" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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