Crossword Genius

Heard man request a payment method (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mail order

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'method' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't see how they can define each other.

'heard man request a payment' is the wordplay.
'heard' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'man' becomes 'male'.
'request a payment' becomes 'order' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'male' sounds like 'mail'.
'mail'+'order'='MAIL-ORDER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mail order that I've seen before include "Buying by post" , "One way to get delivery" , "that one's sent for?" , "Shopping by post" , "Way to shop" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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