Crossword Genius

Charles and Mike in a terrible hole! (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chasm

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

'terrible hole' is the definition.
'chasm' can be an answer for 'hole' (I have seen 'Deep hole' mean 'chasm' so perhaps 'hole' could also mean 'chasm'). I am unsure of the 'terrible' bit.

'charles and mike' is the wordplay.
'charles' becomes 'Chas' (shortened form).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'mike' becomes 'M' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'chas'+'m'='CHASM'

'in a' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for chasm that I've seen before include "Gaping hollow" , "Gorge" , "Yawning gap" , "Deep opening in the earth's surface" , "What's split" .)

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