The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word APPLAUDS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
A
P
P
L
A
U
D
S
More clues leading to the result APPLAUDS
Buddy explains!

The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does APPLAUDS mean?
APPLAUDS noun- Applause; applauding.
- Plaudit.
- To express approval (of something) by clapping the hands.
- To praise, or express approval for something or someone.