Crossword Genius

Tears back showing some spirit (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rips

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'tears' is the definition.
(rip is a kind of tear)

'back showing some spirit' is the wordplay.
'back showing' becomes 'rip' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'some' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'spirit' is 's'.
'rip'+'s'='RIPS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for rips that I've seen before include "cuts" , "Tears violently" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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