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Be very busy and beat routine (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

humdrum

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'routine' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'be very busy and beat' is the wordplay.
'be very busy' becomes 'hum' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'beat' becomes 'drum' (synonyms).
'hum'+'drum'='HUMDRUM'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for humdrum that I've seen before include "Unexciting" , "Dull and uninteresting" , "Workaday" , "Droning sounds" , "Boringly monotonous" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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