Crossword Genius

Cheating before spring, and making good progress (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

doing well

'making good progress' is the definition.

'cheating before spring' is the wordplay.
'cheating' becomes 'doing' ('do' can mean to scam or con someone).
'before' says to put letters next to each other.
'spring' becomes 'well' (I've seen this before).
'doing'+'well'='DOING WELL'

'and' is the link.

(Another definition for doing well that I've seen is " Making good progress, say patient".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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