Crossword Genius

American brute keeping right up to date (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abreast

'up to date' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'american brute keeping right' is the wordplay.
'american' becomes 'a' (common abbreviation - e.g. in organisation names).
'brute' becomes 'beast' (synonyms).
'keeping' is an insertion indicator.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'beast' enclosing 'r' is 'breast'.
'a'+'breast'='ABREAST'

(Other definitions for abreast that I've seen before include "Side by side; keeping pace" , "Level or keeping pace with" , "On a level together" , "Well-informed" , "Side by side - in the picture" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun and The Independent.
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