Crossword Genius

Gesture when in male corner (4,1,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cock a snook

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'gesture' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'when in male corner' is the wordplay.
'when' becomes 'as'.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'male' becomes 'cock' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'corner' becomes 'nook' ('nook' can be a synonym of 'corner').
'cock'+'nook'='cocknook'
'as' inserted inside 'cocknook' is 'COCK A SNOOK'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cock a snook that I've seen before include "Show contempt (with thumb touching nose and fingers spread)" , "Gesture contemptuously" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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