Words of gratitude and disapproval? Don’t mention it! (5)
I believe the answer is:
taboo
'words' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'gratitude and disapproval? don't mention it' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'gratitude' could be 'ta' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'ta' is found within the answer.
'disapproval?' could be 'boo' (as in a crowd booing) and 'boo' is found within the answer.
This accounts for all the letters.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for taboo that I've seen before include "unacceptable" , "Anathema" , "By religion or custom, not to be done or touched" , "Socially forbidden" , "Subject to prohibition" .)