Lovatts colossus Giant Cryptic 174

being a yank, we pon't get the puzzle. Could conceivably be "hack off" (which would fit the 'war' part of it)

I "pon't" get it either, what's the po'nt, but imagine that if I heard a war cough and flew, I'd have left quickly.

When you hear war cough. leave quickly( 2 words)?a?k ?f?

Walk off

Only if 'off' only has one 'f'.

Homophone a friend first before that final fling.

When you hear war cough. leave quickly( 2 words)?a?k ?f?

When you hear (means the answer sounds like) war cough (walk off) whereas the straight clue is "leave quickly".

Then we agree! Off is a three letter word.

It must be there for our ineffable amusement.