Crossword Genius

Goodness precedes the elegant first person (8,2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gracious me

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'goodness precedes' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'elegant first person' is the wordplay.
'elegant' becomes 'gracious' (similar in meaning).
'first person' becomes 'me' (first-person pronoun).
'gracious'+'me'='GRACIOUS ME'

'the' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for gracious me that I've seen before include "Mamma Mia!" , "Gordon Bennett" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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