Mouth essentially held in vice-like grip, to stop speaking (4,2)
5A — Mouth essentially held in vice-like grip, to stop speaking (4,2) — CLAM UP
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Definition
Definition found: 'to stop speaking' — The definition is the phrase at the end — to suddenly refuse to talk.The definition is the phrase at the end — to suddenly refuse to talk.
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'essentially''essentially' points at the heart of a word — its central letter.
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Operation
'essentially' signals a letter_selection operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Mouth'
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Indicator
Indicator found: 'held in''held in' tells you one letter sits inside another piece.
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Operation
'held in' signals a container operation
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Fodder
Fodder: 'Mouth vice-like grip,'
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Synonym
Synonyms spotted: 'vice-like grip,' → CLAMP'vice-like grip' points at the tool that squeezes things tight.
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Assembly
CLAMP + U = CLAM(U)P