Crossword Genius

Bribe the French to make cockups (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bungles

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'make cockups' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'bribe the french' is the wordplay.
'bribe' becomes 'bung' (I've seen this before).
'the french' becomes 'les' (plural form of 'the' in French).
'bung'+'les'='BUNGLES'

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for bungles that I've seen is " messes up".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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