Crossword Genius

Do particularly well as pattern-maker (3,2,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

set an example

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'particularly well as pattern-maker' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'do' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'do' could be 'set' (synonyms) and 'set' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for set an example that I've seen before include "Act well so that others may copy" , "Behave as a role model should" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app