How do I solve 24 down in Times Cryptic 29538?

Question

Accepted Answer

24 down reads "I’m surprised, when told, to be in debt" (3 letters); the answer is OWE. It's a homophone clue: the answer sounds like another word. Indicators like 'reportedly', 'we hear', or 'sounds like' point to a word that's pronounced similarly to the answer. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

I’m surprised, when told, to be in debt (3)

24D — I’m surprised, when told, to be in debt (3) — OWE