Crossword Genius

The French policeman needed in support? Shut up (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

telescope

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

'shut up' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with contact as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'the french policeman needed in support?' is the wordplay.
'the french' becomes 'les' (plural form of 'the' in French).
'policeman' becomes 'cop' (slang term).
'needed in' is an insertion indicator.
'support?' becomes 'tee' (tee is a kind of support).
'les'+'cop'='lescop'
'lescop' going into 'tee' is 'TELESCOPE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for telescope that I've seen before include "Glass" , "View distant objects through it" , "Magnifier of distant images" , "Compress like optical instrument that magnifies" , "Crush together" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app