Crossword Genius

Position hesitant sounds around silence (4,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

shut up

'silence' is the definition.
(I know that silence can be written as shut up)

'position hesitant sounds around' is the wordplay.
'position' becomes 'put' (synonyms).
'hesitant sounds' becomes 'uhs' (I've seen this in another clue).
'around' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'put'+'uhs'='putuhs'
'putuhs' in reverse letter order is 'SHUT UP'.

(Other definitions for shut up that I've seen before include "jail" , "Keep quiet!" , "Rude command to stop talking" , "say nothing" , "Close your mouth!" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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