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Cry and sing about housework (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sweeping

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'cry' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'sing about housework' is the wordplay.
'about' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'housework' becomes 'weep' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'sing' placed around 'weep' is 'SWEEPING'.

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sweeping that I've seen before include "Brushing or ignoring distinctions" , "all-encompassing" , "Extensive" , "clearing the mess?" , "Wide in range or effect" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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