Crossword Genius

Expression wears thin when spoken (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

phrase

'expression' is the definition.
(I know that phrase is a type of expression)

'wears thin when spoken' is the wordplay.
'wears thin' becomes 'frays'.
'when spoken' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'frays' is a homophone of 'PHRASE'.

(Other definitions for phrase that I've seen before include "Saying" , "Words for a seraph" , "Expression without a verb" , "Seraph (anag.)" , "Has rep part of a sentence?" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent and The Guardian.
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