Crossword Genius

Stiff mud is not even liquefied with tar (15)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

undemonstrative

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

'stiff' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'mud is not even liquefied with tar' is the wordplay.
'liquefied with' indicates an anagram (a fluid or liquid form of the letters).
'mud'+'is'+'not'+'even'='mudisnoteven'
'mudisnoteven' mixed up with 'tar' makes 'UNDEMONSTRATIVE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for undemonstrative that I've seen is " Cold".)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app