Crossword Genius

Punch a mate (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

china

'mate' is the definition.
(cockney rhyming slang, mate is china plate)

'punch a' is the wordplay.
'punch' becomes 'chin' (slang term meaning to punch someone on the chin).
'chin'+'a'='CHINA'

(Other definitions for china that I've seen before include "Oriental country" , "Hi, can you make porcelain here?" , "Tableware; country" , "Porcelain articles" , "Where one regularly unloads junk" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Guardian.
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