Credit cards, so to speak

PLASTIC

Think of what many modern payment cards are made from—it’s also a term for something fake or insincere.

"Credit cards, so to speak" hints at the answer "PLASTIC" because credit cards are commonly made of plastic. The phrase "so to speak" signals that the clue isn’t literal—it’s referring to the material rather than the cards themselves. It’s a straightforward example of how crosswords use everyday associations to lead to the answer.