Crossword Genius

Old chairman showing mother nothing (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mao

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'old chairman' is the definition.
'Mao' can be an answer for 'chairman' (I've seen this before). I am not sure about the 'old' bit.

'mother nothing' is the wordplay.
'mother' becomes 'ma' (Ma is another word for mother or mum).
'nothing' becomes 'o' (looks like zero - 0).
'ma'+'o'='MAO'

'showing' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mao that I've seen before include "Communist leader of China" , "The familiar Tse-Tung" , "Old Chinese "Chairman"" , "- Zedong, Chinese communist leader" , "Chinese statesman" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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