How do I solve 12 across in Times Cryptic 5220?

Question

Accepted Answer

12 across reads "Nice expression of a woman’s involvement?" (8,2,5 letters); the answer is CHERCHEZ LA FEMME. It's a cryptic definition: the whole clue is a playful or punny description of the answer. No wordplay decomposition to do — read laterally and identify what's being described. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Nice expression of a woman’s involvement? (8,2,5)

12A — Nice expression of a woman’s involvement? (8,2,5) — CHERCHEZ LA FEMME