Crossword Genius

Assault with a nail, say (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

attack

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'say' is the definition.
(I know that attack is a more specific form of the action criticise)

'assault with a nail' is the wordplay.
'assault with' becomes 'at' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'a nail' becomes 'tack' (tack is a kind of nail).
'at'+'tack'='ATTACK'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for attack that I've seen before include "Pitch into" , "Assault or criticise violently" , "Start a fight or criticise strongly" , "Offensive or inslaught" , "Fiercely criticise" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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