Crossword Genius

Cut pack and speak grace (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

decorate

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

'grace' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'cut pack and speak' is the wordplay.
'cut pack' becomes 'dec' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'speak' becomes 'orate' (orating is a kind of speaking).
'dec'+'orate'='DECORATE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for decorate that I've seen before include "Improve the look of" , "Award a medal to" , "Add ornament, colour, etc." , "Add ornamentation to" , "Honour" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app