The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word EXPRESSION
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
E
X
P
R
E
S
S
I
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N
More clues leading to the result EXPRESSION
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "word or phrase" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case word or phrase = expression.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 EXPRESSION mean?
EXPRESSION noun- The action of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc.
- A particular way of phrasing an idea.
- A colloquialism or idiom.
- A facial appearance usually associated with an emotion.
- An arrangement of symbols denoting values, operations performed on them, and grouping symbols.
- The process of translating a gene into a protein.
- A piece of code in a high-level language that returns a value.
- A specific blend of whisky.
- The act of pressing or squeezing out.
- The tone of voice or sound in music.