Crossword Genius

Floating around, being AWOL (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

adrift

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

'floating' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'around being awol' is the wordplay.
'around' is a reversal indicator.
'being' becomes 'D.A.' (D.A. is an example).
'awol' becomes 'rift' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'da' back-to-front is 'ad'.
'ad'+'rift'='ADRIFT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for adrift that I've seen before include "Rudderless, astray" , "Floating uncontrolled" , "Not anchored, floating freely" , "'Directionless, floating freely (6)'" , "No longer fixed in position" .)

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