Crossword Genius

Concentrated but looking embarrassed, cued poorly (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reduced

'concentrated' is the definition.
('reduce' can be a synonym of 'concentrate')

'looking embarrassed cued poorly' is the wordplay.
'looking embarrassed' becomes 'red' (I've seen this before).
'poorly' indicates anagramming the letters.
'cued' is an anagram of 'uced'.
'red'+'uced'='REDUCED'

'but' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for reduced that I've seen before include "Abridged" , "Diminished - cut-price" , "Made less in size etc" , "Impoverished" , "Shortened" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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