Criminal alleges ecstasy’s the talk of the bar? (8)
I believe the answer is:
legalese
'talk of the bar?' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'criminal alleges ecstasy's' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ecstasy' becomes 'E' (informal term for the drug).
'alleges' anagrammed gives 'legales'.
'legales'+'e'='LEGALESE'
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for legalese that I've seen before include "contract wording?" , "formal language" , "such language at the bar!" , "barman's peculiar words" , "it's hard for most to understand" .)