Crossword Genius

Punch drunk earlier, journalist giving little away (5-6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tight-fisted

'giving little away' is the definition.

'punch drunk earlier journalist' is the wordplay.
'punch' becomes 'fist'.
'drunk' becomes 'tight' (I've seen this before).
'earlier' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'journalist' becomes 'ed' (short for editor).
'fist' put after 'tight' is 'tightfist'.
'tightfist'+'ed'='TIGHT-FISTED'

(Other definitions for tight-fisted that I've seen before include "near" , "Stingy (informal)" , "Mean" , "Miserly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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