Crossword Genius

Eastern inmate off with jacket? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

matinee

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

'jacket?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

'eastern inmate off' is the wordplay.
'eastern' becomes 'e'.
'off' indicates an anagram.
'e'+'inmate'='einmate'
'einmate' is an anagram of 'MATINEE'.

'with' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for matinee that I've seen before include "early "performance"" , "theatre performance" , "Afternoon show" , "Daytime performance of play etc" , "Afternoon theatre" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app