Crossword Genius

Too much to pay for loam (3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

the earth

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'too much' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'pay for loam' is the wordplay.
'pay for' becomes 'the' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'loam' becomes 'earth' (I've seen this in another clue).
'the'+'earth'='THE EARTH'

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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