Crossword Genius

Understanding to knock on the left (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rapport

'understanding' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'knock on the left' is the wordplay.
'knock' becomes 'rap' (synonyms).
'on' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, letters appear on others).
'the left' becomes 'port' (left side of a ship - opposite of starboard).
'rap'+'port'='RAPPORT'

'to' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for rapport that I've seen before include "communion" , "Mutual harmony and affinity" , "Sympathetic understanding" , "Bond of sympathy" , "Relation, connection" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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