Copper right to be abrupt (4)
I believe the answer is:
curt
'abrupt' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'copper right' is the wordplay.
'copper' becomes 'cu' (chemical symbol).
'right' becomes 'rt'.
'cu'+'rt'='CURT'
'to be' is the link.
(Other definitions for curt that I've seen before include "Brusquely succinct" , "Brusque, short" , "Snappy" , "Dismissively short" , "Brusque, abrupt in speech" .)