Crossword Genius

Pries up with metal objects (6)

Ross

I think it could be either:

spoons

snoops

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

'pries' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'up with metal objects' is the wordplay.
'up' says the letters should be written in reverse (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'with metal' becomes 'oons' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'objects' becomes 'Ps' (P is an example).
'oons' reversed gives 'snoo'.
'snoo'+'ps'='SNOOPS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for snoops that I've seen before include "Sneaks" , "Spies, eavesdrops" , "Spies, eavesdroppers" , "Pries inquisitively using spoons" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app