Help With Parsing Please

[michaeljhoward]

Observer crossword no. 3890 Sunday 2 May 2021

Retaliation: what makes 'hit a toff' click!? (3,3,3)
I've got Tit for Tat but can't parse it. Thanks in advance

[Lie-in King]

Tit for tat - use 'tit' for 'tat' in 'hiT A Toff' for 'hiT IT off' (click)

[cashier]

HiT A Toff instead of hit it off (click)

[JJ109]

Replace the letters T a T in hit a toff with T i T (ie tit for tat) and you get
Hit it off = click

[dannyk13]

JJ that doesn't fit the letter pattern 3 3 3.

[donny48]

When you look at the crossword there is nine spaces but with such a well fitting answer perhaps a setters error ?

[Mamyalynne]

OP knows the answer, they asked for the parse.

People have parsed it.

[dannyk13]

Donny, but what about Retaliation?

[donny48]

The answer is tit for tat, Danny. the hit it off is given as explanation for click.

[dannyk13]

Lynne, but which parse is correct?

[JJ109]

Danny Tit for tat is 3,3,3 !

[dannyk13]

jj you gave Hit it off which is 3 2 3

[Mamyalynne]

Well, the first answer in is clear to me.

I admit that on Sunday it took me a moment to realise it.

[JJ109]

No Danny - I gave the parsing!

The OP gave the answer Tit for Tat

Tit for tat (retalliation) = definition
What makes Hit a toff = click is "swop" "tit" for "tat" in "hit a toff and you get "hit it off" which means click!