Crossword Genius

Farewell, in a manner of speaking, after very short drink (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

valediction

'farewell' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'a manner of speaking after very short drink' is the wordplay.
'a manner of speaking' becomes 'diction' (I've seen this before).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'short' suggests taking the first letters.
'drink' becomes 'ale' (ale is a kind of drink**).
The first letter of 'very' is 'v'.
'v'+'ale'='vale'
'diction' put after 'vale' is 'VALEDICTION'.

'in' is the link.

(Another definition for valediction that I've seen is " Farewell".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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