Associate scoffed about fool in trouble (7)
I believe the answer is:
agitate
'trouble' is the definition.
(I know that agitate is a more specific form of the action the trouble)
'associate scoffed about fool' is the wordplay.
'associate' becomes 'a' (this could be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'scoffed' becomes 'ate' ('to scoff' is to eat).
'about' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'fool' becomes 'git' (both can mean an annoying person).
'ate' put after 'git' is 'gitate'.
'a'+'gitate'='AGITATE'
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for agitate that I've seen before include "Fluster" , "rock" , "Stir up (trouble?)" , "Get upset" , "Foment" .)