Crossword Genius

Pest that means trouble to the Poles (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

snail

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

'pest that' is the definition.
'snail' can be an answer for 'pest' (I've seen this before). I am unsure of the rest of the definition.

'trouble to the poles' is the wordplay.
'trouble' becomes 'ail' (synonyms).
'to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'the poles' becomes 'SN' (North and South poles).
'ail' put after 'sn' is 'SNAIL'.

'means' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for snail that I've seen before include "French delicacy" , "Slow-moving creature" , "Its speed was emulated by Shakespeare's creeping schoolboy" , "Edible gastropod" , "go very slowly" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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