Unpleasant things in male mood — something burdensome (9)
I believe the answer is:
millstone
'something burdensome' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'unpleasant things in male mood' is the wordplay.
'unpleasant things' becomes 'ills' (I've seen this in another clue).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'male' becomes 'm' (common abbreviation).
'mood' becomes 'tone' (tone is a kind of mood).
'm'+'tone'='mtone'
'ills' put inside 'mtone' is 'MILLSTONE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for millstone that I've seen before include "something hard to bear" , "Heavy and inescapable responsibility" , "Heavy burden" , "Grinding disc; wearisome burden" .)