Crossword Genius

Blokes can skirt round reference (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mention

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'reference' is the definition.
(I know that reference can be written as mention)

'blokes can skirt round' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'blokes' could be 'men' (bloke can informally mean a man) and 'men' is found within the answer.
'round' could be 'o' (round can mean a round object) and 'o' is found in the answer.
'can' could be 'tin' (both are metal containers) and 'tin' is found within the leftover letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mention that I've seen before include "Speak of - refer to" , "Acknowledge" , "Allude to" , "state" , "Passing reference" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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