Put off upsetting Fred about an early start (5)
I believe the answer is:
defer
'put off' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'upsetting fred about an early start' is the wordplay.
'upsetting' is an anagram indicator.
'about' indicates putting letters inside.
'start' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'early' is 'e'.
'fred' anagrammed gives 'dfer'.
'dfer' going around 'e' is 'DEFER'.
(Other definitions for defer that I've seen before include "Put off to later time" , "Allow precedence (to)" , "Submit to someone" , "Play for time" , "Yield to another's wishes" .)