Crossword Genius

Calamaris first to end, being popular, making good profit (5,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

quids in

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'good profit' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't tell whether this works.

'calamaris first to end being popular' is the wordplay.
'calamaris first' becomes 'quids' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'to end' means to remove the middle letters (I've seen 'ends of' mean this).
'being popular' becomes 'infashion' (I've seen this in another clue).
'infashion' with its centre taken out is 'in'.
'quids'+'in'='QUIDS IN'

'making' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for quids in that I've seen before include "Better off" , "Having a profitable situation" , "Having made a profit" , "Profiting from something" , "Likely to profit" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Mail.
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