Crossword Genius

Tense up, seeing cobblers, etc (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

desserts

'cobblers etc' is the definition.
(cobbler is a kind of dessert)

'tense up' is the wordplay.
'tense' becomes 'stressed' (I've seen this before).
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'stressed' in reverse letter order is 'DESSERTS'.

'seeing' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for desserts that I've seen before include "Sweets" , "Final courses" , "Puddings" , "fools, perhaps?" , "Last courses" .)

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