Crossword Genius

Encounter urgent demand: a sign of the times? (3,6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

run across

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'encounter' is the definition.
(I know that encounter can be written as run across)

'urgent demand a sign of the times?' is the wordplay.
'urgent demand' becomes 'run' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'sign of the times?' becomes 'cross' (I've seen this in another clue).
'run'+'a'+'cross'='RUN ACROSS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for run across that I've seen before include "Find by chance" , "what this answer doesn't do" , "Unexpectedly meet" , "Chance upon" , "By chance encounter" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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