Crossword Genius

Knot in whip leads to gossip (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chitchat

'gossip' is the definition.
(I know that gossip can be written as chitchat)

'knot in whip' is the wordplay.
'knot' becomes 'hitch' (hitch is a kind of knot).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'whip' becomes 'cat' (cat o' nine tails, cat for short is a type of whip).
'hitch' put within 'cat' is 'CHITCHAT'.

'leads to' is the link.

(Other definitions for chitchat that I've seen before include "Gossipy talk" , "Idle talk" , "rabbit" , "Trivial conversation" , "Inconsequential talk" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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