Crossword Genius

Frank getting Charlie into crime before once (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sincere

'frank' is the definition.
(frank can mean sincere or honest)

'charlie into crime before once' is the wordplay.
'charlie' becomes 'C' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'into' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'crime' becomes 'sin'.
'before once' becomes 'ere' (archaic word for 'before').
'sin'+'ere'='sinere'
'c' put inside 'sinere' is 'SINCERE'.

'getting' is the link.

(Other definitions for sincere that I've seen before include "Not hypocritical" , "Earnest" , "straightforward" , "devout" , "Honest, frank" .)

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