Crossword Genius

Bond hit right in belly (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rapport

'bond' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'hit right in belly' is the wordplay.
'hit' becomes 'rap' (I've seen this in other clues**).
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'belly' becomes 'pot' ('pot' can be a synonym of 'belly').
'r' placed inside 'pot' is 'port'.
'rap'+'port'='RAPPORT'

(Other definitions for rapport that I've seen before include "Mutual sympathy" , "Sympathetic relationship" , "Feeling of mutual understanding" , "Feeling of affinity and harmony" , "Empathy" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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