Crossword Genius

Begin to understand material one doesn't finish (6,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cotton on

'begin to understand' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'material one doesn't finish' is the wordplay.
'material' becomes 'cotton' (cotton is a kind of material).
'doesn't finish' means to remove the last letter.
'one' with its final letter taken off is 'on'.
'cotton'+'on'='COTTON ON'

(Other definitions for cotton on that I've seen before include "Perceive the meaning (of)" , "Understand (slang)" , "Begin to understand (colloq.)" , "Come to understand" , "In thin shirt" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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