Crossword Genius

Nuts - crack almonds to start with (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gaga

'nuts' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'crack almonds to start with' is the wordplay.
'crack' becomes 'gag' (both can mean a joke).
'to start with' suggests taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'almonds' is 'a'.
'gag'+'a'='GAGA'

(Other definitions for gaga that I've seen before include "Barmy joke, third in cracker" , "Slightly mad (colloq.)" , "Slangily crazy, off one's head" , "Doddery" , "Slangily crazy or senile" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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