Shout when wife has trouble (4)
I believe the answer is:
wail
'shout when' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to communication as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'wife has trouble' is the wordplay.
'wife' becomes 'w'.
'has' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'trouble' becomes 'ail' ('ail' can be a synonym of 'trouble'**).
'w'+'ail'='WAIL'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wail that I've seen before include "Prolonged cry" , "Cry, moan" , "Whimper" , "Long cry, as of siren" , "Howl" .)