Crossword Genius

Finishes food each time before drink (4,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

eats up

'finishes food' is the definition.
(to eat up food is to finish it off)

'each time before drink' is the wordplay.
'each' becomes 'ea' (abbreviation).
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'drink' becomes 'sup' (to sup is to drink).
'ea'+'t'+'sup'='EATS UP'

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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