Make quick progress in the opinion poll, by the sound of it (6)
I believe the answer is:
gallop
'make quick progress in' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'opinion poll by the sound of it' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
an anagram of 'poll' is 'llop' which is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for gallop that I've seen before include "Fastest pace of horse" , "All at GPO can go at this rate" , "Fastest gait of a horse" , "Horse's fastest pace" , "Faster than a canter" .)